Nongpoh, December 09: Mahatma Gandhi University, Meghalaya, in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), successfully organized a two-day national conference on December 4 and 5, 2025, titled “The AmritKaal Classroom: Blending IKS, Multidisciplinary Thought, and Mother Tongue for Viksit Bharat 2047.” The conference aimed to explore how Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), multidisciplinary learning, and mother-tongue-based education can drive India’s march toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
In the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sagar O. Manjare emphasized that the classrooms of the “AmritKaal” must foster both scientific temperament and cultural rootedness. He stated that higher education institutions now play a pivotal role in nurturing innovation while preserving India’s intellectual heritage. The university extended sincere appreciation to Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. Rajan Chopra, Patron of the event, whose support enabled the academic initiative. The VC also acknowledged AIU’s strategic guidance in shaping the conference intellectually.
The event brought together academic leaders, scholars and industry representatives. Day 1 featured dignitaries whose perspectives highlighted the roles of national security, entrepreneurship and education reform. The Chief Guest, Shri ThonglenglalHaokip, Deputy Commandant, CRPF, shared insights from his experience in internal security and stressed that a strong education system must coexist with a secure and stable nation. The Guest of Honour, Shri Ankur Bezbaruah, entrepreneur and founder of Prakritik Paint, discussed sustainable entrepreneurship rooted in traditional knowledge, local resources and community-driven innovation.
On Day 2 welcomed another set of distinguished speakers who contributed perspectives from public administration, governance and policy reform. The Chief Guest, Dr. Kamal Hassan , ARPU,ASSAM shared insights from his experience in internal security and stressed that a strong education system must coexist with a secure and stable nation. The Guests ofHonor, Mr. David Oliver Laitphlang a Senior Journalist and Dr.Bro.P.K.James Principal, Montfort,They highlighted the importance of technological inclusivity, regulatory clarity and curriculum innovation aligned with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
A blend of online and offline paper presentations showcased research contributions from faculty members, students and scholars across India. The presentations explored areas such as mother-tongue pedagogy, IKS-based classroom practices, multidisciplinary integration and community-linked learning models.
MGU announced that key recommendations from the conference will be compiled into a white paper and submitted to the UGC, Ministry of Education, and Government of Meghalaya. All scholarly papers will also be published in book form, creating a valuable academic resource.
The conference concluded with a strong message: building a Viksit Bharat 2047 requires educational spaces that are innovative, inclusive and deeply connected to India’s cultural and linguistic identity.