Nagaland Chief Minister Nand Kishore Yadav on May 22 said that preserving tribal heritage should not be viewed as resistance to modernisation, but as an important step towards ensuring culturally sensitive, inclusive and sustainable development.

Addressing the inaugural session of a national seminar on “Revisiting Tribal Heritage of Northeast India: Challenges and Opportunities” organised by the School of Humanities and Education at Nagaland University’s Meriema Campus in Kohima, the Governor highlighted the rich cultural legacy of tribal communities in the Northeast.

He said tribal societies of the region have preserved their cultural identities, oral traditions, customary practices and indigenous knowledge systems for centuries, making them an invaluable part of India’s civilisational and cultural heritage.

However, Yadav expressed concern that rapid globalisation, modernisation, urbanisation and technological changes are posing serious challenges to traditional institutions and cultural practices.

He noted that indigenous languages are gradually declining, oral traditions are fading and younger generations are increasingly distancing themselves from their cultural roots and traditional lifestyles.

The Governor stressed that these challenges make discussions on tribal heritage highly relevant in the present context. He also said every challenge presents an opportunity and called upon academic institutions, researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations to work together for documenting, preserving and promoting tribal heritage.

According to him, universities and higher educational institutions have a major responsibility in strengthening indigenous knowledge systems, promoting local languages and bridging traditional wisdom with modern academic research.

Yadav further said tribal communities possess valuable traditional knowledge related to environmental conservation, sustainable living, community harmony and coexistence with nature, from which the modern world can learn important lessons.

He appreciated the participation of scholars and experts from different parts of the country, saying such intellectual exchanges encourage deeper understanding, meaningful dialogue and constructive policy discussions on tribal heritage and development in Northeast India.

The Governor also congratulated the organisers, faculty members, researchers and students associated with the seminar and expressed hope that the deliberations would generate practical recommendations for preserving and advancing tribal heritage in the region.