The International Inter-disciplinary Winter School on Endangered Cultures and Sustainability with special reference to tribal and folk communities in India was inaugurated on Tuesday at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.
The Winter School is being organised by the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, University College of Cork, Ireland and the Anthropological Survey of India from January 8 to 12. The inaugural function was chaired by Prof Alok Shrotriya, Dean, Social Science and Director Academics, IGNTU.
Prof Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri, Director, IGRMS was the Chief Guest. Prof Ranju Hasini Sahoo was the co-ordinator of the event. Lidia Guzy, Head, Study of Religions Department, University College Cork, National University of Ireland was the Key note speaker of the inaugural function. Prof SR Padhi, HoD, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, IGNTU was present as the Guest of Honour. On this occasion, Sevaram, a representative of the Baiga community was also present.
Prof Chaudhuri in his inaugural speech emphasised that Universities must have a larger social responsibility linking with the people of the surrounding areas where they are actually located. Citing the reference of Andre Beteilles book “Universities at the crossroad” he made mention of the ideology where the issue of larger social responsibility which a University as an institution must carry forward. Further, he also mentioned that the Winter School conceptually evolved with multidisciplinary ideas.
Lidia Guzy, in her key note address explained the purpose of Winter School as a mutual endeavour of learning, meeting, exchange of ideas, discussion and changing something for the better. What is missing in the western education is the inclusion of the indigenous knowledge into higher education of European Universities. She cited IGRMS, the National Museum of Mankind as the remarkable example of the inclusion of indigeneity and refers one of the best museums of the world. She further pointed out that the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) as the exemplary model for the inclusion of indigenous studies in the higher education.