GUWAHATI: In a move aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Gauhati University has introduced a six-month Certificate Course in Tai-Ahom Language and Medieval Manuscriptology under its Centre for South East Asian Studies.
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The initiative aims to promote the historic Tai-Ahom language through structured academic engagement while strengthening research, documentation, and preservation of the region’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
Eminent historian and former Gauhati University professor, Padma Shri Dr. Jogendra Nath Phukan, who attended the inaugural programme as Chief Guest, highlighted the deep connection between the Tai-Ahom language and Assam’s historical identity. He stressed that preserving and studying the language goes beyond academics and is a shared responsibility to protect a significant civilisational legacy.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, while inaugurating the course, emphasised the role of language as a marker of identity. “Language is the soul of a people; its revival reflects the resurgence of cultural self-respect,” he said, adding that the Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) must be leveraged to strengthen traditional knowledge through scientific research and innovation.
Prof. Mahanta also underlined the relevance of historical manuscripts, noting that they are not merely remnants of the past but valuable sources of knowledge that can inform present understanding and future progress.
The inaugural programme was attended by Registrar Prof. Utpal Sharma, Academic Registrar Prof. Rajib Handique, Prof. Dhruba Pratim Sharma, noted academician Dr. Dayananda Borgohain, Dr. Biju Moran, Dr. Nityananda Gogoi, along with faculty members, researchers, and students.