Shillong, August 07: Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU), Shillong, has been awarded an international research and documentation grant from the British Museum, London under its Endangered Material Knowledge Programme (EMKP).
This project is titled Documentation of the Production of Traditional Fishing Tools and Their Use in Freshwater Environments of Meghalaya, India. It is led by Dr. Rajindra K. Puri, (Director of the Centre for Biocultural Diversity and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, UK) along with Dr Larilin Kharpuri, Professor, MLCU and Dr Pranjal Dubey, Assistant Professor, Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems, MLCU, serve as Co-Principal Investigators.
The project focuses on documenting the traditional fishing tools and associated ecological knowledge of the Pnar community in Sohmynting village, West Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya.
Crafted primarily from locally available bamboo, cane, and other natural materials, these fishing implements represent generations of indigenous innovation, ecological understanding, and sustainable resource management. They continue to play a vital role in supporting rural livelihoods while preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage.
With increasing pressure from modern fishing technologies, environmental degradation, and changing socio-economic conditions, many of these traditional practices face the risk of fading into historical nostalgia.
The project seeks to systematically document the construction, use, and cultural significance of these tools, ensuring that this valuable knowledge is preserved for future generations and contributes to ongoing discussions on biodiversity conservation and sustainable freshwater resource management.
The involvement of MLCU in this collaborative initiative reflects the University’s commitment to research that integrates academic excellence with community engagement and the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge.
Through such partnerships, MLCU continues to contribute to the preservation of Meghalaya’s indigenous heritage while advancing research that supports sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
