Release of Caving Book and Meghalayan Age PosterThe wonder that is Meghalaya

 

Release of Caving Book and Meghalayan Age PosterThe wonder that is Meghalaya

The Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems and the Department of Tourism

and Travel Management of Martin Luther Christian University organised a programme

entitled Natural and Cultural Heritage of Meghalaya - Seminar and Release of

Publications on November 16, 2021 at the MLCU campus at Nongrah, Shillong. The

programme formed a part of the celebration of the 50 th anniversary of statehood of Meghalaya

Meghalaya, our beautiful state is well known for many unique features. To name a few, it is

well praised for its scenic beauty, for housing the wettest place on earth, for its matrilineal

system and others. The unique features can be observed both in its natural environment and

the cultural fabric of the people of Meghalaya. To add to this list is the cave systems that

Meghalaya is blessed with. The recent geologic time scale named the Meghalayan Age has its

origins in a cave in Meghalaya. The programme’s objective is to celebrate, commemorate and

understand the importance of the natural and cultural wealth of Meghalaya. It couldn’t be a

better way to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of Meghalaya’s statehood.

The cChief guest, Dr David R Syiemlieh, former Chairman of UPSC released the magnificent

book entitled Cave Pearls of Meghalaya Volume 3 edited by Thomas Arbenz. As rightly said

by Dr Glenn C Kharkongor, Thomas Arbenz and his group have bestowed a munificent gift

to the people of Meghalaya in particular, and to nature lovers all over the world through this

book. Thomas Arbenz, was present virtually for the programme.

The guest of honours, Dr D Vijay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary Govt. of

Meghalaya, released the posters on the Meghalayan Age prepared by Dr Glenn C

Kharkongor. The posters have been prepared separately for both adults and children. Though

many of us would understand the significance of the Meghalayan Age yet we struggle to

understand the details that it entails. The posters with simple language, pictures and graphs

enables an aid easy understanding of the subject.

Dr TK Kharbamon, Vice Chancellor of MLCU released a novel entitled The Pangs of Love

written by Dr Brian D Kharpran Daly. The novel is set in a Ccaving contextbeing an

important part of the fiction book fits perfectly with the programme.

A presentation on caving expeditions was passionately given by Dr Brian D Kharpran Daly

which displayed the rich natural beauty of caves in our state. Speleology, which is the or

Sstudy /Exploration of cCaves does not just end with the adventure of entering a cave but

embodies many other important aspects as well. One such importance of speleology is the

flora and fauna of caves which are yet to be completely documented in Meghalaya.

The release of the publications was followed by a seminar. Dr David R Syiemlieh gave a

presentation on Iron Smelting among the Khasis which is an important cultural tradition. This

was followed by Dr Marco Mitri’s cCarbon dating of archeological specimens from

mMegalithic sites in Meghalaya, another interesting facet of our culture in Meghalaya. The

last presentation, was presented by Dr Glenn C Kharkongor was on the Meghalayan Age, an

educational presentation helping to understand better the phenomenon. MLCU is privileged

to be able to release these valuable publications and host the seminar..

The programme was attended by board members of the university, invitees and guests,

Deans, Head of Departments, faculty members and students.