The 41st Foundation Day of the IGRMS was marked by the inauguration of a two-day national seminar where Prof Sarit K Chaudhuri (Director, IGRMS) explained the need for understanding cultural essence of Meghalaya, while welcoming large number of participants joined together from Meghalaya and other states.
Prof Henry lamin, Pro Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, Shillong, an anthropologist delivered key-note address where he tried to reflect on uniqueness of the people and landscapes of Meghalaya having on cultural specificities of matrilineal societies and various issues of tradition and culture in the context of changing world. KK Chakravarty IAS (Former Director, IGRMS) chaired the inaugural session where he tried to explain the need for new initiatives and rethinking on different conception and cognitive categories in the context of Meghalaya and its oral culture.
He categorically stressed on how institution like IGRMS, universities like NEHU and indigenous scholars can join together and explore the relevance of symbolism of landscape, verbal and performing traditions as well as visual imaginaries in order to redefine the meaning of culture to understand the ideas of human progress or culture of development. Inaugural session came to an end with vote of thanks by SK Pandey (Assistant Keeper). Inaugural session was attended by large number of scholars including Pankaj Rag, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Culture.
There are different tribal communities who are having different food habits. But more or less all Meghalayan people are fond of hot and spicy food. A dish of sweet potato was boiled with honey and lots of green chillies were also prepared. Along with Meghalayan food, cooks from neighbour Manipur prepared - Ooty (list of pea lentils), pakora, aquarium (tur dal), saana (paneer), kheer and kangmeet (boiled potato and dry chillies vegetable) was also served which not only food lovers ate but also got it parcelled for home.
The Meghalaya people prepare fish in mouth watering ways. Smoked Fish, Nakham Bitchi (hot spicy soup prepared by using special kind of fish), Tungtap (Fish chutney) are some of the famous food items of Meghalaya. Jadoh, Pumaloi (steamed rice), Pukhlein, Pudoh (a dish prepared from powder rice), sticky rice, Milliem Chicken is one of the most famous food items of Meghalaya.