Workshop to protect archeological monuments

Chancellor of the Global Open University Nagaland (GOUN), TN Mannen, IAS retired, said today’s young minds are more on “imaginative sciences and internetting” but stressed that the importance of preserving and protecting archaeological monuments and heritage sites cannot be ignored before it is “irretrievably lost due to negligence.”
He said this while addressing the opening session of the one day national seminar and workshop on “Conservation and restoration of archaeological monuments of India’s North East: Issues and challenges during the 21st century AD,” organised by the GOUN in a collaborative programme with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi, and the Society for Cultural Heritage for North East Region at the GOUN campus here Friday.
Speaking as the chief guest, Mannen said that archaeological importance in North East (NE) region is not being “appreciated adequately” not only by the general public but even by the “educated intelligent section” adding there is lack of appreciative curious queries or popularized visit to archaeological sites. He said that even if one visits such sites, no proper information and ambience is created.
Mannen urged the ASI to take the responsibility to guide and collaborate with the state’s archaeological departments. He also highlighted some historical sites like Kachari ruins which is “not well preserved”; migratory routes like Khezhakeno, Chungliyimti, Maram etc; Khonoma- the battle ground of the British invasion; and Impur church- first missionary headquarter, which could be “considered as historical sites”; Ang Morung of Konyak tribe, skull collection of head hunting days which “needs to be surveyed and documented”.
With reference to the recent BJP vision document where it was mentioned that the NE people were “immigrants,” Mannen said that the “inadvertent inclusion or typographic error” reflected the “true perception” of the mind of the leaders and hopped that the leaders would “mend the mistake”. The chief guest also inaugurated the photographic exhibition.
Guest of honour and HOD of History from Archaeology, Nagaland University, Prof. N Venuh said, in account of the NE region’s archaeological monuments, till date government has not realized the preservation of monuments. He pointed out the “peculiarity” of Nagaland state under Article 371 (A) which deemed that work cannot be undertaken without the consultation even after ASI’s permission to carry out Archaeology work. 
Venuh also said that NE region is “still virgin” in terms of archaeological exploration. Further, he lauded the GOUN for its initiative to organise the seminar which would be “helpful for scholars and the state”. The chief objective of the workshop was to focus the salient features and glory of the NE region of India and discussion on scientific methods of archaeological conservation for future preservation.
Altogether 19 participants including students, NGO activists, educationists, researchers, archaeologists, environmentalists and government officials from NE attended the programme.
The workshop was divided into two sessions, where the resource persons were Superintending Archaeologist ASI, Guwahati circle, Dr Milan Chouley; Director of Excavation Archaeologist ASI, New Delhi, Dr. Syed Jamal Hassan; Director of Institute ASU, New Delhi, Dr. SK Manjul; and conservationist 13 Charu Avenue, Kolkatta, Dr. Neeta Das.
In the valedictory function, GOUN controller of examination, Dr. KC Murry, addressed the gathering. Bendang and group enthralled the gathering by a farewell song, while the vote of thanks was delivered by the Director cum Registrar GOUN, Dr. Imotemsu Ao. and short speeches were also delivered by the participants.