Shillong: Office of International Affairs (OIA), NEHU and ICSSR on Tuesday hosted a distinguished foreign policy lecture delivered by Ambassador Mahesh Sachvev.
The theme of the lecture was entitled, Identity Politics in South West Africa and South South Africa: Tribal and Ethnic Factors in which the distinguished diplomat outlined India’s perspective on claims of ethnic homelands and internecine clashes.
The lecture was presided over by Prof. Bhagirath Panda and it was commented upon by Ambassador Rudi Warjri.
Ambassador Sachdev explained the impact of colonization on Africa by major Western powers that ended up dividing boundaries and areas in an extremely divisive manner.
Prof. P. S. Shukla, vice-chancellor of NEHU and the chairman of North-East Centre of Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, Shillong acted as the chief guest and exhorted the foreign policy community of India to create grounds of synergy between ASEAN, G20 and African nations.
The vice-chancellor emphasized on the fact that the Office of International Affairs (OIA) of NEHU is facilitating closer international academic exchange that can provide opportunities to not only students and researchers but to the youth in general by creating a platform for knowledge products and service by well-trained youth from the Northeastern region.
Prof. P.S.Shukla expressed his deep satisfaction at India emerging as Chair of G20 under the leadership of PM Modi and hoped that in the coming days NEHU and Northeastern region shall find its natural traction with developing and developed countries of the world.
Ambassador Rudi Warjri, while commenting upon Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev’s work in gulf region and Africa pointed out to India’s accommodative and inclusive policy of not allowing African states to disintegrate in the pressure from external and internal forces, but to create conditions of peace and stability in Africa and elsewhere.
India’s role in Africa, according to Rudi Warjri received much appreciation across the board for her insightful global and democratic perspectives.
Earlier welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof. Prasenjit Biswas, on behalf of OIA expressed the hope that NEHU shall become a hub of students from foreign countries and this will help deepen Act East policy in the field of higher education.
In his concluding address, Prof. Bhagirath Panda, the honorary director of the NERC-ICSSR further elaborated upon NEHU’s role in setting up multilateral and multicultural collaboration in all fields of higher education so that social sciences in the region can play a significant role in building meaningful international relations.
Prof. Panda pointed out immense possibility of NEHU and social sciences research in binding together South and Southeast Asia and carry forward the perspective elsewhere to understand complex strategic, economic and educational scenario emerging in global South.
