Assam University Hosts Animation Workshop to Preserve Northeast’s Folklore and Heritage

Way2barak, October 10 : A five-day national workshop was organised at Assam University to preserve and showcase the rich cultural heritage, folklore and traditional crafts of Northeast India through modern technology. The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Visual Arts and the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, with financial support from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). The theme of the workshop was “From Heritage to Motion: Bringing the Crafts and Folklore of Northeast India to Life through Animation.”

The workshop was formally inaugurated by Assam University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant at the Hurmat Ali Barlaskar Seminar Hall of the Department of Mass Communication. The programme was attended by Prof. Nirmal Kanti Roy, Dean of the School of Creative Arts and Communication Studies and Head of the Department of Visual Arts; Prof. M. Gangabhushan, Director of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems; Prof. Piyush Pandey, Director of IQAC; Prof. Debamalya Ghosh, Director of the Career Counselling and Placement Cell; Prof. Charbak, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; and senior faculty member of the Department of Visual Arts, Prof. Ruma Sharma.

During the inaugural programme, Prof. Pant felicitated the invited experts, Dr. Amalendu Bhattacharjee, Dr. Barun Sahai, Dr. Anup Ratna, Dr. Abhijit Padum, Dr. Rajkumar Majindar and Dr. Rajan Kumar Baidya. In his address, the Vice-Chancellor appreciated the innovative theme of the workshop and emphasised the importance of familiarising university students with contemporary creative practices and modern digital skills. The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Nirmal Kanti Roy.

A total of 60 participants, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD scholars and alumni from the Departments of Visual Arts, Mass Communication and Performing Arts, took part in the workshop. They were divided into 15 groups and guided by experienced animation professionals and academicians in developing scripts based on various folk tales and culturally significant themes. While some participants explored the local tradition of Nauka Puja (boat worship), others worked on narratives inspired by the historic language movement in Silchar on May 19, 1961.

Workshop coordinator Dr. Gautam Dutta said that animation and digital storytelling were becoming increasingly important tools for preserving cultural heritage. He noted that India’s national policy on Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), along with initiatives to develop skilled human resources in this sector in Assam, had opened up new opportunities. According to Dr. Dutta, these developments offered scope for introducing relevant academic programmes and skill-based learning opportunities in the Department of Visual Arts. The initiative aims to document local folklore and traditions through animation, bring them to younger generations and preserve their distinctive cultural identity.