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 successfully conducted on 27th and 28th February 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, Hqrs: Lumami.
The seminar 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), along with participants, faculty members, and research scholars from across the country. Prof. Bimol Akoijam, Faculty at JNU and Hon’ble MP from Manipur, also emphasized the need to understand the complexity of infrastructure within social institutions.
The Chairperson for the valedictory session, Dr. Dipika Paul from the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, 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 deliberations on the social implications of infrastructure in Northeast India, emphasizing the challenges of connectivity, diversity, and resilience. Dr. Gupta acknowledged the valuable contributions of invited speakers and participants, whose perspectives and empirical research enriched the seminar. Following his reflections, an interactive feedback session was conducted, where participants shared positive responses, noting that the seminar expanded their understanding of the region’s complex relationship between infrastructure and social dynamics.
The valedictory session was graced by Prof. G.T. Thong, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema. He delivered a brief speech, appreciating the truly multidisciplinary theme of the national seminar. The Patron, Prof. Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, also addressed the gathering, underscoring the significance of the seminar and its relevance in understanding the diverse infrastructural dynamics of Northeast India. His speech was followed by the distribution of certificates to the participants.
Dr. Suraj Beri, the Organizing Secretary, delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing the need to identify and analyze the socio-cultural, political-legal, ecological, geographical, economic, and developmental aspects central to understanding how infrastructure evolves and expands. He also stressed the importance of exploring policy dimensions of democratic infrastructures to address issues of diversity and representation in the region.
The session concluded with a photo session to commemorate the event, followed by light refreshments, providing participants an opportunity to network and exchange ideas on the critical significance of infrastructure.