GUWAHATI, Oct 23 � The Janajati Faith and Culture Protection Forum (Janajati Dharma-Sanskriti Suraksha Manch) � an organisation providing a common platform for all the janajati (tribal) communities of the North-east (including Sikkim) � organised a workshop on the �Philosophy and Spirituality of Eternal/Primordial Religion and Culture of Janajati People of Northeast Bharat� at Maheswari Bhawan, Gosala here.
Rongbong Terang, president of Asam Sahitya Sabha, inaugurated the workshop as chief guest on Friday. In his inaugural speech, he stressed maintaining the unity and integrity of all the tribal communities from Sikkim and the north-eastern States. �Assam is the land of migrant people from the very beginning and the Assamese language has also been greatly influenced by tribal languages,� he said.
Terang said that due to lack of written books on tribal religion and traditions, those were facing severe threat and were not being transferred to the younger generation as many of them opt for higher studies outside their home. �It is therefore essential that written and printed books must be published for all the different tribal communities. The Janajati Forum can take the lead in preserving, protecting and propagate tribal faiths and cultures,� he said.
SD Lepcha, vice-president of Janajati Forum, in his keynote address, elaborated on the aims and objectives of the Forum and the objective behind the workshop. He also paid homage to the tribal heroes who had laid down lives for the motherland.
BB Jamatia, president of the Forum, in his presidential address, dwelt on the efforts of the Forum for codification of tribal customary laws, besides the significance of Sanatan Dharma and Sanatan Sanskriti.
�The Sanatan Dharma (eternal religion) and �Sanatan Sanskriti� are two sides of the same coin. Both are integral parts of the supreme universal dharma with philosophical and practical aspects. Dharma is the soul of sanskriti (culture) with regard to any eternal/primordial religion and eternal/primordial culture of the world. One cannot exist without the other,� he said, adding that the Sanatan Dharma and sanskriti practised by each janajati communities are the main factors behind their coexistence.
Scholars, historians, academicians and priests submitted their thesis papers relating to the topic. Eminent personalities Dr Atul Dev Barman, L Khimhun, Renemoh Sungoh, Ramkuiwangbe Newme, Nabam Atum and Dr BB Kumar were among the resource persons in the workshop. A total of 264 delegates participated in the meet.
The workshop will conclude tomorrow. The closing session at 4 pm will be addressed by Guru Tulku Rimpoche (chief of Tawang monastery) as chief guest.
