A two-day national conference on Indigenous Cultures and Religions in India was inaugurated on Tuesday at Dhanamanjuri University, Imphal.
The programme is organised by Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur in collaboration with Dhanamanjuri University and Indian Association for the Study of Religion.
Presenting his speech as one of the presidium members of the function, vice chancellor of Dhanamanjuri University professor N Rajmohun Singh said that the importance of indigenous people, their knowledge, culture and religion has been highlighted at various international platforms.
He continued that The Belem Declaration (1988), Chiang Mai Declaration (1988), World Herbo Expo(Bhopal, 2004), Rio Earth Summit (1992), International Labour Organisation (1995) acknowledge that "people are at the centre if they concerned for their sustainable development" and mandated that government must respect the special cultural importance of the land.
In the final document of Johannesburg Summit (2002), it was supposed to "acknowledge the importance of ethics for sustainable development" and to affirm that peace, security and stability and respect "for the right to development as well as for cultural diversity are essential for ensuring that sustainable development is to benefit all", he added.
He said that India in general and Northeast India in particular is a land of cultural and ethnic diversity. There is a high expectation that research scholars and experts who are going to participate in the conference will deliver excellent lectures thereby creating a social awareness about the valuable resources.
The programme was also attended by vice chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, prof Prakash Mani Tripathi; vice chancellor of Manipur University, prof Naorem Lokendra Singh and vice-chancellor of Manipur University of Culture, prof Paonam Gunindro Singh as presidium members of the function.
