Shillong, November 03: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Mr Joual Oram while addressing the two day of the two days International Seminar on ‘Understanding the Tribes of Asia’ organized by the Synod College in collaboration with P.A Sangma foundation in Shillong said that there are around 700 tribes in India enlisted in the Schedule Tribe list.
Addressing the inaugural function as Chief Guest, Jaul Oram said, “In India there are plenty of tribes and around 700 of them have been enlisted in the Schedule of the Constitution of India and out of the 700 more than 500 tribes have their own separate dialect and 27 dialect are indangers.
With assurance he said, “I’m sure that this seminar will bring closeness among the people of the country and I hope that through this there will be an exchange of ideas of different customs, rituals and practices by the many tribes of Asian county participating in the seminar.”
The International seminar is being participated by many Asian countries including faculty members of the college, research scholars and traditional heads.
“Very recently there was a report which was released in which it showed that 27 languages are enlisted as endangered or on the verge of extinction,” he said adding that this is a huge concern for the government of India.
Stating that if you travel 10 miles from one place to another then there is a change in the taste of water, he said, “Simmerly even in Meghalaya if you travel from one place to another there is a vast difference of traditional customs and tradition or even in the dialect the people speak.”
Earlier, Professor Kumar Sarkar, vice chancellor, university of Burdwan, West Bengal in his key note address said, culturally the North East is the most diverse region of India and home to nearly 200 fascinating tribes. Speaking on the topic of smelters he said, “From time immemorial Khasi mastered the art of smelting iron and making good quality steel and Khasi vended ploughshares, hoes, bill books and other implements all over Assam valley.”
