IMPHAL, January 29: The valedictory function of the two days national seminar on “Singularity of India: integration, homogenization and racism (January 28-29, 2013)” organized jointly by the United NGOs Mission-Manipur, Conflict and Human Rights Studies Network, Manipur, and North East Dialogue Forum was held at Classic Hotel today.
During the function, Dr Kangujam Sanatomba, Post Doctoral Fellow of ICSSR gave the rapporteur `s report of the seminar with the valedictory address being given by Dr A Bimol Akoijam, Assoc Prof, Centre for Study of Social System, JNU, New Delhi.
Chief guest of the function I Hemochandra, Minister of Public Health Engineering Department/ Labour and Employment said that the theme of the seminar was dear to him. He remarked, “This is an area which I would like to revisit”.
He then said the three NGOs have been able to create an umbrella where minds can be engaged. “The singularity of India is a recent term as there was no singularity of India during 1970s. It will be good to discuss about our stand in terms of racism, integration, singularity etc,” he added.
Prof W Nabakumar, Dean of the School of Human and Environmental Science, Manipur University who attended the function as president said globalization is itself a process of homogenization.
“North East India is a kind of political agenda adopted by the government of India. Our epistemology is found to be suffering from lack of relevance resonance. The idea of integration/unity will be found very far from us, and the future of India is found to be very bleak if the government of India do not understand the situation,” he added.
Earlier, OJ Meetei, Internal Consultant, UNM-M; Dr. Nani Bhat, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Rajiv Gandhi National University, Rono Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, and Dr. J. Richard Devdosss, Director, Cornerstone Trust, Chennai presented their papers on the concluding day of the seminar.