GUWAHATI, March 31 - A national seminar on the topic �Role of North-East in Freedom Movement: Unsung Heroes�, was organised recently by the Department of History, Pandu College under the sponsorship of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies in the college premises, said a delayed press release.
About 150 individuals, which included noted academicians from different parts of the North East, young scholars and students actively participated in academic deliberations. Interesting presentations were made by different scholars on the topic of the seminar.
The seminar, spread over two days, saw four technical sessions in which seventeen papers were presented.
The inaugural session was attended by Dr IS Chauhan, former Ambassador to Fiji and noted scholar as the chief guest. Dr Jogesh Kakati, Principal of Pandu College welcomed the guests.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof Meeta Deka, former head, Department of History, Gauhati University. She focused on the unsung heroes of the North East including women, students, peasants and common men whose contributions have not got due recognition.
Prof Sarah Hilaly, HOD, History, Rajiv Gandhi University, spoke about the resistance to colonial rule by various tribes of Arunachal Pradesh which manifested in a series of raids into British territory and culminated in rebellions.
Prof Amena N Passah from the Department of History, NEHU, Shillong said it was widely felt that the Khasi-Jaintia people did not participate in the freedom struggle against the British Raj. However, there were valiant heroes who posed a threat to colonial hegemony. She dwelt on the Khasi-Jaintia men who rose to the occasion to defend their motherland.
