Shillong, Aug 7: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today reviewed the progress of ‘Tracing the Roots’, a landmark interdisciplinary research initiative of the Department of Arts & Culture aimed at documenting and studying the history, language, culture, heritage and historical development of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities.
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister held detailed deliberations with the committee constituted to guide the research and reviewed the roadmap for implementation of the initiative.
The initiative will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, integrating historical research, oral traditions, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, linguistics, archaeology, ethnography and contemporary scientific methods, including genetic studies where appropriate, to critically examine theories relating to the origins and historical movements of the indigenous communities. The project will also document customary institutions, festivals, material culture and language vitality, while creating enduring digital archives for future generations.
As part of the initiative, dedicated digital platforms have been developed to document the progress of the research, preserve knowledge resources and facilitate public engagement throughout the course of the project.
The Chief Minister stated that the initiative is aimed at building a robust, evidence-based understanding of Meghalaya’s indigenous heritage while preserving invaluable oral histories and cultural traditions.
Officials informed that preparatory work has been underway since February, including the constitution of research teams and the development of the project framework. The initiative will involve collaborations with leading national and international academic institutions to undertake comparative historical, linguistic and cultural studies, while producing scholarly publications, educational resources and comprehensive digital repositories.
The ‘Tracing the Roots’ initiative seeks to preserve Meghalaya’s rich indigenous heritage through rigorous academic research, strengthen cultural identity, and create a lasting repository of knowledge for scholars, policymakers and future generations.
