Manuscript Research Centre Established in Assam University

way2barak, 15 June : Manuscripts Research Centre has been established in Assam University, Silchar by the National Mission for Manuscripts (NNM). In this respect, a MoU was signed between Assam University, Silchar and National Mission for Manuscripts, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi for the collection, cataloguing and survey of the available manuscripts of Barak Valley region including conducting awareness campaigns and educating people regarding manuscripts. The MoU was signed by Dr Pradosh Kiran Nath, Registrar on behalf of Assam University and Dr Anirban Dash, Director, NMM in the presence of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Pant expressed that this signing of the MoU will contribute immensely in unearthing the treasures of the manuscripts of the valley and also preserving these in digital forms. Dr Dash assured all sorts of assistance from NMM in the conservation of the manuscripts. The MoU was signed on the occasion of the One day National Seminar held in Assam University on the topic “Manuscript and Literary Tradition of India: Special Focus on the Northeast” jointly organized by Dr Ambedkar Chair and Committee for the Celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Assam University Silchar.

The Inaugural Session of the national seminar began at 10-30 am on 10th June in Premendra Mohan Goswami Hall in which the newly appointed Project Director Prof. Dipendu Das welcomed all the dignitaries and guests and also briefly mentioned about the purpose of organizing the seminar. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Pant felicitated Sri Arun Kumar Das, an octogenarian retired school teacher of Ganganagar of Cachar district who in his personal capacity has built up a reservoir of rare manuscripts and a museum. In his address the Registrar Dr Pradosh Kiran Nath emphasized on the preservation of the manuscripts. The Guest of Honour Dr Aashish Bilas Bhave, Secretary of the Centre for Northeast Studies, New Delhi addressed the participants and talked about different aspects of manuscript studies, especially in the context of this region. The Director of NMM Dr Anirban Dash delivered the Keynote address in which he briefed about the conservation efforts undertaken by NMM as well as about the value of manuscripts in understanding the culture and history of a nation. Vice Chancellor Prof. Pant presided over the session and said that because of various reasons we lost a vast reservoir of knowledge in the form of manuscripts and we need to take appropriate steps for the preservation of the rest of the treasures and the MoU is a right step in this direction. Prof. Anup Kumar Dey, Dr Ambedkar Chair Professor delivered the vote of thanks to all the dignitaries and participants. Dr Barunjyoti Choudhury did the compering of the session.
The Inaugural session was followed by a plenary session in which Prof Dipendu Das presented a paper on the feminist re-reading of Savitri Brata Katha. He analysed how this tale which is originally taken from the Mahabharata, through later interpolations, draws similarity with the Greek, Roman, Egyptian and some other European myths and has become a powerful depiction of a woman who asserts her position and resistance in a patriarchal agrarian society. The second speaker of the plenary session Prof. Anindya Syam Choudhury presented a paper on the Ramkatha traditions in Northeast India. Through some video clippings he gave a pictorial presentation of different Ramkatha traditions among the Mizos, Karbi, Tai Ahums and other ethnic communities of the Northeast. He said that this tradition is fast becoming extinct and efforts should be there to keep this continuity in order to preserve our culture and tradition. The session was presided over by Dr Anirban Dash.
Altogether 16 nos. of participants including teachers from different colleges and research scholars as well as PG students presented their papers on different aspects of manuscript studies. Prof. Nani Kumar Singha and Dr Govind Sarma chaired the two technical sessions. The Valedictory session was compered by Anandita Singh in which Prof. Anup Kumar Dey and Dr Aashish Bhave expressed their expectation of organizing similar kind of academic events related to manuscript studies in future. After having an interactive session with the participants, the seminar came to an end with the delivery of the vote of thanks by Dr Barunjyoti Choudhury.