INTACH (The Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage), in collaboration with the state’s research directorate, opened its Arunachal Pradesh chapter at a ceremony held at the JN State Museum’s auditorium in Itanagar.
During the inauguration, Cultural Affairs Minister Taba Tedir emphasized the significance of this chapter for documenting and safeguarding the rich heritage of Arunachal. He highlighted its role in preserving tangible and intangible heritage, safeguarding historical and archaeological sites, and enhancing the potential of UNESCO World Heritage sites like Thembang fortified village and the Apatani cultural landscape in Ziro.
Tedir specifically emphasized the protection of endangered languages in the state, stressing INTACH’s crucial involvement in this crucial endeavour.
INTACH Arunachal Chapter Convener Oken Tayeng said that “the opening of INTACH Arunachal chapter creates a bridge between the state’s research directorate and the INTACH to glorify the culture of the state.”
Earlier, INTACH Chapter Division Director, Captain Arvind Shukla, presented a brief on the objective of the INTACH and its importance in the context of Arunachal, where there has been a gradual erosion of traditional arts and architecture, rituals and other forms of heritage due to the onslaught of modern forces.
The INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Principal Dr Nerupama Y Modwel spoke about the INTACH’s work in the north-eastern region in the fields of conservation, research, documentation, outreach programme, organisation of people’s museum, etc, and its plan for Arunachal, “which would involve cultural mapping, identification and documentation of diverse cultural elements, studying of cultural expressions from different communities, organising programmes for tourism in promoting local culture, community engagement, network building, collaboration, and more.”
The function was attended also by Padma Shri awardees Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi and Mamang Dai, RGU Dean Prof Sarit Kumar Choudhuri, Art & Culture Director Tabang Bodung, IPR Director Onyok Pertin, Gazetteer Director Sokeph Kri, and Research Director Kanggo Tayeng.
