RONO HILLS, Aug 1: A three-day national seminar themed ‘Rock Art - Archaeology of India: A Comparative Interpretation with Northeast India’, organized by the Adi Drishya Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi in collaboration with Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi and Department of Anthropology, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), commenced at its premises here today.
In his keynote address, Prof Ravi Korisettar, Adjunct Professor (National Institute of Advanced Studies-NIAS), delivered an insightful presentation on rock art, emphasizing its importance covering various rock art sites in India.
Prof Korisettar also presented a critical analysis taking various examples for understanding the role of rock art in human cognitive development.
In his introductory speech, Dr Ramakar Pant, Head, Adi Drishya Division, IGNCA, explained the concept of rock art and the role of the Division in research and preserving the rock art sites all over India.
The Division’s initiation and its various efforts have made rock art research as a new avenue among the scholars, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof Sarit K Chaudhuri, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences (RGU), explained the importance of organizing a national seminar focusing on the rock art- archaeology in the context of North East India.
Later, a short rock art documentary preview presenting rock art of Chandauli was shown by Adi Drishya Division, IGNCA.
Prof Tana Showren, Member, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi and Department of History (RGU), emphasized the importance of preserving indigenous communities and their cultural richness and the need for decolonization of research in the context of North East India.
RGU Registrar Dr N T Rikam pointed out the scanty research and documentation of the rock art sites in and around North East India. He also requested for signing MoU with the Departments of Anthropology and History with both - IGNCA and ICHR, New Delhi to explore academic cooperation in a meaningful way.
Dr Vinod Kumar, ICHR, shed light on various opportunities and research schemes (national and international) given by ICHR in the form of fellowships and grants to research scholars across the disciplines.
Further, RGU Vice Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha said that the importance of appreciation of Indian culture and exploring the Indian knowledge system will widen the research perspectives on rock art and archaeology.
Moreover, the VC announced development of a rock art museum with the involvement of the Dept of Anthropology at the RGU campus in collaboration with Adi Drishya Division, IGNCA.