Regional seminar in MU
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19 2017:
A day long regional seminar on North East India and South East Asia: Historical & Cultural Relations was held at Manipur University under the aegis of MU Centre for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) in collaboration with the ASEAN Studies Centre, ASC (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India) Shillong on Saturday.
Vice Chancellor Prof Adya Prasad Pandey of MU was the chief guest of the seminar's inaugural function which was also attended by former Director of Centre for South East Asian Studies, Madras University Prof V Suryanarayan, coordinator of ASC Shillong Dr CJ Thomas, Director of CSSEIP Prof E Bijoykumar and Dean of Manipur University Prof N Lokendro Singh.
During the seminar, speakers expressed their desire to understand the socio-economic change in the region.
In one of the presentation during the academic sessions, China expert Dr Laishram Rajen of Political Science Department, MU urged the authority concerned to make Manipur saleable while implementing India's Act East Policy considering its closeness to the South East Asian countries.
According to Dr Rajen, rice is sold at around Rs 12 per kilogram (Indian currency) in neighbouring Myanmar against Rs 24-25 in Manipur.
Similarly fish is sold at Rs 30 per kg against Rs 150-180 in Manipur.
These essential commodities could be made available at Moreh, the border town of Manipur by spending transportation cost (around Rs 1 per kg) .
Interestingly, India's 'Act East policy' was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi replacing the earlier 'Look East Policy' at the ASEAN-India Summit in Myanmar in November 2014 .
Former Director Dr Arambam Lokendra of EM]MRC, MU made a presentation on "Historical linkage between NE India and South East Asia : Manipur experience in pre-colonial times", Prof Ch Priyoranjan Singh of Economic Department, MU on "The Silk route revisited".
Prof TT Haokip of NEHU, Konthoujam Sarda of ASC and Prof P Gunindro of MU also made presentation on different historical and cultural aspects of the NE India
and South East Asia.