The Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures and Heritages (RIWATCH), Arunachal Pradesh, and Kohima Science College (Autonomous), Nagaland, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic cooperation, promote interdisciplinary research and safeguard the linguistic and cultural heritage of Northeast India.
The agreement was signed at the RIWATCH campus in Khinjili, Roing, Arunachal Pradesh, on October 10, 2026, by RIWATCH Executive Director Vijay Swami and Kohima Science College Principal Dr. Temjenwabang.
The partnership seeks to establish stronger institutional links between Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland through collaborative research, language documentation, cultural preservation, academic exchanges and community-oriented initiatives.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will undertake joint research and interdisciplinary studies exploring the region’s diverse histories, traditions and contemporary academic needs. They will also pool resources to document, preserve and promote indigenous languages and cultural traditions across Northeast India.
The MoU further provides for academic and student exchanges, sharing of expertise and resources, and collaborative community development programmes focused on education and cultural sustainability.
Highlighting the broader vision of the partnership, Swami said the collaboration marked an important step towards connecting Northeast India through unified research. He emphasised that institutional cooperation was essential to preserving the histories, languages and cultural traditions of local communities.
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Swami also shared his long-term aspiration to develop RIWATCH into a university, provisionally envisioned as the University of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures and Heritages (UWATCH), to expand its educational reach.
Dr Temjenwabang praised RIWATCH’s pioneering work in language documentation and cultural preservation, describing the MoU as more than a formal agreement. He said it laid the foundation for a lasting partnership based on shared knowledge, mutual respect and a common commitment to enriching traditional knowledge across the region.
The Kohima Science College delegation included Vice-Principal Kevilhuninuo Nagi; Dr Moarenla Longkumer, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology; Dr Mhathung Yanthan, Convenor of the Research and Development Centre; and Dr Lilongchem Thyug, Coordinator of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell.
The RIWATCH delegation comprised Swami; Dr MS Awan, Centre Head of the RIWATCH Centre for Mother Languages; Dr Nandini Dholepat; Dr Karabi Baruah, faculty member; and other faculty members and researchers.
