A Research Centre (Clark Centre for North East India Studies) focused on collection of books, artifacts and research documents on North East India, was officially inaugurated and dedicated by ABAM executive secretary Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger at Clark Theological College (CTC) on January 16.
In his brief introduction, principal of Clark Theological College Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener said that it was already two years since the college seriously considered launching the centre to fulfil the needs of researchers on North East India.
The principal also expressed the opinion that in memory of this historic ocassion, he dreamt of producing a book that addresses the issues and problems faced by indigenous communities of the region and methodological approaches to address and counter them.
The principal thanked God and all those whose hands made realizing this dream possible. A book, “Ethnic Politics in North East India: An Academic Approach” edited by Mar Pongener, A. Temjen Jamir and L. Imsutoshi Jamir and with a foreword by Sanjoy Hazakira, international director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and the author of Strangers No More and Strangers of the Mist, was formally released by the global president of the World Association for Christian Communication, Toronto, Canada, Dr. Samuel W. Meshack.
The book carries 25 resourceful and exhaustive research papers written by indigenous scholars of the North East Indian region but, who at present, are either settled or working in different parts of the world.
The book is divided into four parts: The first part is on History, Identity & Politics, the second part is on Religion, Culture and Worldview, the third part is on Justice, Reconciliation & Peace and the last part is on Customary Law, Practices & Women.