NIRJULI, Nov 6: A two-day International Conference titled “Invisible Struggles: Mental Health and the Lived Realities of the Peripheralized” began today at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli.
The event, organized by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), NERIST, is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt of India, and the Dept of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs (SJETA), Govt of Arunachal Pradesh, in association with knowledge partners BRIDGE, Kolkata, and the Mariwala Health Initiative, Mumbai.
The conference also marks the observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
In his address, NERIST Director Prof Narendranath S stressed the growing concern of mental health challenges, particularly among students, and called upon academicians to work towards building inclusive and supportive academic environments.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Anand Prakash, Psychologist Emeritus and former Head, Department of Psychology, University of Delhi, urged for a shift from viewing mental health as an individual issue to a community-based approach. He emphasized deconstructing societal notions of “normal” and fostering inclusive, compassionate dialogue on mental well-being.
Rajiv Gandhi University’s Sociology Dept Head and State Nodal Officer, Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Dr Bikash Bage, speaking on behalf of SJETA, highlighted the significance of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada being observed nationwide from November 1 to 15.
Special invitee Prof Nikhil Sengupta, Director, Psychology and Public Policy Research Unit, University of Kent (UK), commended the initiative and expressed commitment to further academic collaboration.
Prof Rita Rani Talukdar, Head, Dept of Psychology, Gauhati University, described the event as a “gathering of the thoughtful.” She emphasized the need to understand privilege, responsibility, and social change, remarking, “Mental health is the story of survival — it is not a privilege but a right.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Ravi Kumar, Head (In-charge), Department of HSS, urged participants to translate empathy into action through meaningful discourse on mental health and social inclusion. Dr Yuma Narah, Assistant Professor and convenor of the event, presented an overview of the conference, emphasizing mental health as a collective social responsibility.
As part of the inaugural session, two books — “Mind Matters: Unveiling Mental Health Among the Youth of Arunachal Pradesh” and “Sanitation Among the Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh (Status, Awareness Level and Hygienic Practices)” — published by the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) were released. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Gelling Modi, Assistant Professor, Dept of HSS, NERIST.
The conference features plenary and technical sessions focusing on mental health among marginalized and peripheralized communities, adopting a multidisciplinary approach that integrates psychology, public health, social work, and policy studies.
The first plenary was delivered by Dr Trude Sundberg, School of Social Sciences, University of Kent, followed by sessions led by Kumam Davidson Singh, Founder, MATAI Society and Co-Founder, The Chinky Homo Project, and Dr Nikhil Sengupta. The conference witnessed active participation and research paper presentations from scholars across India and abroad, fostering meaningful dialogue on the intersections of mental health, identity, and inclusivity.