The valedictory session of the two-day National Seminar on “Social Lives of Infrastructure in Northeast India: Navigating Diversity, Connectivity and Resilience” sponsored by ICSSR New Delhi, Nagaland University, and Supongmeren Jamir, MP, Nagaland was held on February 28.
The Seminar was held on February 27 and 28, 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, Hqrs: Lumami, informed a press release by the University.
The event was graced by esteemed speakers such as Prof. Amarjeet Singh, Jamia New Delhi, Prof. Virginius Xaxa, IHD New Delhi, Dr. Raile Rocky Ziipao, IIT Bombay, Prof. Komol Singha, JNU, and Dr. Roulahpuia, IIT Roorkee and participants, faculty members and research scholars across the country. Prof. Bimol Akoijam, Faculty at JNU and MP from Manipur also emphasized the need to understand the complexity of infrastructure in social institutions. The Chairperson for the valedictory session, was Dr. Dipika Paul, Department of Sociology, NU, who welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the day’s proceedings.
Dr. Sandeep Gupta, Convenor of the seminar, reflected on the discussions held during the event. He highlighted the depth of the deliberations on the social implications of infrastructure in Northeast India, emphasising the challenges of connectivity, diversity, and resilience. Dr. Gupta acknowledged the valuable contributions of invited speakers and the participants, who enriched the seminar with their perspectives and empirical research across the contexts in the region. Following the reflections, there was an interactive feedback session with the participants. Their responses were positive, with many noting how the seminar expanded their understanding of the region’s complex relationship between infrastructure and social dynamics.
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Prof G.T. Thong, Pro Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema graced the Valedictory session. He gave a short speech appreciating the truly multidisciplinary theme of the national seminar. The Patron, Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, addressed the gathering, and underscored the significance of the seminar and the importance of the subject matter in understanding the diverse infrastructural dynamics of Northeast India. His speech was followed by distribution of certificates to the participants.
Dr. Suraj Beri, the Organizing Secretary, delivered the closing remarks, emphasised the need to identify and analyse the socio-cultural dimensions, political-legal dimensions, ecological and geographical aspects and economic and development aspects as central to understand the ways in which Infrastructure evolves and expands. He stressed the need to explore the policy dimensions of democratic infrastructures to address the issues of diversity and representation in the region. The session concluded with a photo session to commemorate the event and a round of light refreshments, allowing the participants to network and exchange ideas on critical significance of infrastructure.
