Dimapur, May 16 (MExN): A two-day International Conference through webinar was organized by Asufii Christian Institute Research Cell, Mao-Manipur on May 12 and 14 on ‘Naga Culture and languages (to understand the history of the Nagas)’ as a part of Makhel lecture series, 2021.
Specialists of the Trans-Himalayan studies from diverse disciplines were invited to discuss their findings – with special reference on the Nagas.
Professor George van Dreim who occupies the chair for Historical Linguistics at the University of Berne, was the speaker on May 12.
Prof George spoke on the topic, ‘Ancestral Home of Naga peoples based on language and Genes’ with well researched findings. “The evidence of language and genes indicates a Tibeto-Burman homeland in the Eastern Himalayan region. The Naga ancestors already lived in the Indo-Burmese hill tracts,” he shared.
Dr Jelle J P Wouters, a social anthropologist who teaches in the Department of Social Sciences at Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan spoke on May 14 on the topic, ‘Thinking through Naga origin and migration stories’.
He began the talk by noting that Naga history is sufficiently wide, long and deep to accommodate a multitude of origin and migration stories. Dr Wouters subsequently discussed various approaches on the topic, emphasizing the crucial importance of oral history in the study of Naga history. Participants at the webinar comprised of young Scholars, Professors and other professionals. The two-day interactive session was chaired by the Webinar’s Chairperson, Dr Sahiinii, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Asufii Christian Institute.
The Makhel lecture series, 2021 is an event initiated by Asufii Christian Institute Research Cell. The series is named after ‘Makhel’ because based on folklores, many Naga tribes accept ‘Makhel’ as their final settlement place, before they moved to their present villages, the institute stated in its press release. The main aim of the Makhel lecture series is to understand the history of the Nagas. Also, the purpose is to create an avenue particularly for students and young scholars to discourse on the history of Nagas on different perspectives. This lecture series will be continued in the coming days, the institute stated.
