Participants and staff of DGC along with members of the Highland Institute, Kohima during the first of the International Seminar on “Fusion: Intellectual and Cultural Exchanges” held at DGC on June 1. (Morung Photo)
Seminar on 'Fusion- Intellectual and cultural exchange' organised in DGC
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 1
In pursuance of better intellectual discussion on the cultural and traditional diversity of Naga society and its relationship with the other cultures, a two day International Seminar on “Fusion: Intellectual and Cultural Exchanges,” was organised by the Department of English & Research Committee, Dimapur Government College (DGC) in collaboration with the Highland Institute, Kohima & IQAC, DGC on June 1 at the college premises in Dimapur.
Dr Arkotong Longkumer, senior lecturer with a speciality in Modern Asia at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK), during his keynote address drew upon the idea of music as a means of ‘fusing and blending’ together tradition and modernity to create something new and different.
He called on the works of Rewben Mashangva, renowned folk singer and musician, who has made extensive use of Western influence to create music that can relate to a particular place and time.
“It (fusion) establishes a new way of doing things,” he said, relating to the inherent ability in fusion to bring diverse forces together.
Adding upon this, he noted how ideas and methods to create music from the past can be passed down from one generation into the next, amplifying the notion of fusion.
“Fusion is very much imbedded in the ecologies of creation,” by which he means that the ability to bring together various influences and transcend new grounds and ideas for a wider audience.
Earlier, Dr Maongkala Longchar, Assistant Professor, Department of English, DGC, who was one among the several chairpersons for the programme stated, “Fusion is a process that includes the union of different things as if by narrative, blending or coercion.”
She mentioned that the seminar was a “confluence of scholastic thought and research.” As it holds the promise of multidisciplinary intellectual discourses on the theme and various sub-themes of tradition, culture, heritage and identity, traditional knowledge and practices, traditional cuisines and costumes in the wake of modernity, tradition, change and continuity among many others.
She added that the idea of the seminar intended to throw up several questions, specifically on what happens when two or more cultures come together or what sort of encounters do they produce?
“Do these encounters simply copy dominant cultures and suppress marginalised ones or is there an open inquiry that leads to growth and establishing a new identity, is there such a thing as a pure culture, are we on the precipice of cultural annihilation?” she threw upon the audience.
For Dr Vinyuhu Lhoungu, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, DGC, who gave the welcome address, he stated that culture plays a very special role in safe-guarding and promoting heritage and facilitating mutual understanding through intercultural dialogue.
A book titled, “The Diary of Connie Shakespear: The Naga Hills 1900-1902” was also launched during the programme by Dr M Libanthung Ngullie, Principal of DGC. Dr Theyiesinuo Keditsu in her introductory speech about the book noted how it the contributions and details given by Shakespear are a set of guiding tools that helps scholars and readers alike to look into the past with a different perspective.
The book was edited and published by The Highlander Press run by The Highland Institute, Kohima. The Foreword to the book was written by Sentiyula, Assistant Professor, Department of English, DGC.
Several papers ranging from a wide variety of topics related to Naga history and culture and other communities were also presented during the event as well.
