Originally published on 28th July 2010 at India Educational Diary
Taking the words of the patriotic monk Swami Vivekananda that "Union in India must be a gathering up of its scattered spiritual forces" a seminar on the topic "Traditional Systems, Change and Continuity amongst The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh" is to be conducted from From 30 July to 1 August 2010 at Tawang, India.
Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture - Arunachal Pradesh Chapter (VKIC-APC) together with The Monyul Socio-Cultural Development Society, Mon Region (MSCDS) is organising this seminar.
This seminar will comprise of academic sessions, cultural programmes, an exhibition on Monpa life sketch and sale of Monpa handicrafts. The programme will be organised in such a way that people will get a complete picture of Monpa life.
A large gathering of Monpas from two districts of Arunachal Pradesh viz, Tawang and West Kameng, will be there. The occasion is going to be a treat for people who cherish culture and tradition. It would also be an opportunity for a better understanding and a deeper look at the scientific cultural and traditional practices of Indian tribal life.
Both the Vice Presidents of Vivekananda Kendra Shri Balakrishnan Ji and Sushri Nivedita Bhede with the Joint General Secretary Sushri Rekha will participate as Guest of Honor and as Invite respectively.
There will be Paper Presentations and Panel Discussions on Themes such as Traditional Self Governing Institutions, Customary Laws, Importance of Bhoti Script, Death Ceremony, Marriage System, Role of Women, FaLaa Festival and Influence of Buddhism.
The papers presented in this seminar are done by Scholars from various fields, they range from lawyers, educationalists to intellectuals from the Monpa community.
This is a one of a kind seminar which looks at the relevance in studying and validating traditional systems of the Monpa's. It also aims at effectively projecting the innate capacity of traditional systems on the socio-cultural platform of the community. The possibility to channel the capacity of all systems pertaining to the Monpa community to respond to the challenges confronting the community is vital in discussion.
The opportunity to work out the methodology for strengthening continuity to the systems evolved through centuries of tested experience is one not to be put down lightly. This event is aimed to trigger out a positive evolution in the outer forms of the Monpa tradition.
