Vidya Vistar

Online National Seminar - 'Tribes: Learning and Unlearning Tribal Culture' on 9-10 December 2021

Janki Devi Memorial College, in collaboration with Mahatma Gandhi Govt. College, Mayabunder, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under the Vidya Vistar scheme of the University of Delhi, successfully organised an online National Seminar 'Tribes: Learning and Unlearning Tribal Culture' on 9 and 10 December 2021. Dr. Shilpa Chaudhary, Nodal Officer of Vidya Vistar scheme and IQAC Coordinator, JDMC, began the proceedings. The inaugural session was addressed by Prof. Swati Pal, Principal JDMC, Prof. B Prabhuram, Principal, MGGC and Prof. Ratnabali, Dean of Academic Activities and Projects, and Coordinator of Vidya Vistar scheme, University of Delhi. Padma Shri Prof. Anvita Abbi, formerly from the Centre for Linguistics, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, delivered the keynote address. She spoke on her research among the Andaman tribes and how they are the among the earliest languages that developed in the subcontinent. Prof. Abbi stressed on the importance of research and policy in the conservation of these endangered languages.

50 participants presented, across 10 sessions, organised on diverse and pertinent themes in the two days. These themes ranged from tribal cultures and health to state policy and visual and literary representations. Each session was chaired by a nationally distinguished academician, and attended by many research scholars across the country. Some of the prominent chairpersons of these sessions were Prof. Sudha Vasan, Prof. M. Amarjeet Singh, and Sahitya Akademi and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Ushakiran Khan. The sessions were conducted on Google Meet, and feedback was solicited from attendees for each session.

The seminar was concluded at the second day with the valedictory session, where the Principals of both the institutions addressed the gathering. Prof. Sandhya Garg, Vice Principal, JDMC also congratulated the two institutions and the members of the Organising Team. The report of the entire seminar was presented by Dr. Ajitha Narendran, IQAC Coordinator, MGGC, and the feedback of some participants was shared. Eminent Hindi author, social activist and IAS, Sri Ranendra, was the guest of this session, and he spoke on the importance of research on tribal communities in contemporary India. The session concluded with the formal vote of thanks, delivered by Dr Bidhu Bhushan Mondal, Nodal Officer of Vidya Vistar scheme, MGGC.

Youtube links of recordings of the seminar:

Day 1 - 9 December 2021