Report by Aniruddha Gokhale, Students of Jnana Prabodhini Nigdi:

VISIT TO RIWATCH

On Matrubhumi Parichay Shibir, the students of Jnana Prabodhini Nigdi, Gurukul of class 10th standard had a two days camp at Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritages (RIWATCH), which is located at Roing, Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. In these two days we learned about RIWATCH, had sightseeing to Mayudia, had lectures from prominent people in the area, and conducted other activities.

The motive of Matrubhumi Parichay Shibir

The motive of Matrubhumi Parichay Shibir is to visit different places in India and try to understand the culture, heritage, geography, tradition, and history of the place visited.

RIWATCH

We arrived at RIWATCH on 31st Oct 2022, we were greeted by Shri. Vijay Swami, Director of RIWATCH. The campus of RIWATCH had a peaceful scenery with Arogya Centre, Library, Ethnographic Museum, Documentation Centre, Research cottages, Herbal medicinal plant garden, and Meditation Centre.

On 01st November 2022, Shri. Vijay Swami, gave us tour of RIWATCH campus. First, we went to the Ethnographic Museum which is dedicate to tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Sir gave a lot of information about every important article in the museum. After observing the ancient artifacts, we were able to understand some basic information like how every tribe have different way of preserving and sustaining life. Then, we proceed to Northeast Gallery which is also called “Vivek Gallery” it is dedicated to Shri. Vivek Pongshe ji, to pay homage to him as he was very close to the people Northeast India. After that, we went to Herbal Medicinal plant garden. We were astonished to see magnificent herbal garden with varieties of local medicinal plant. We also loved the pond which was filled with white and pink Lotus.

Lecture by Shri. Epra Mekola, an Environmentalist

Shri. Epra Mekola took a seminar on “Environmental Conservation and it’s need” It was our pleasure to meet a person who has worked so close to nature and the constituents of nature. It was great to know how some traditions and taboos of indigenous people go hand-in-hand in protecting and preserving nature. We also learned about varieties of flora and fauna of Lower Dibang Valley District, Arunachal Pradesh.

Lecture by Dr. Ista Pulu, a Gynaecologist

We had a lecture on ‘Community Conservation Area’. Dr. Ista Pulu, who belong from an Idu Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. He presented a PPT on how a community, who followed the traditions of preserving and shielding nature from generations back took the lead to protect their area by forming a community.

Informal conversation with Moshami didi

Moshami didi gave us advice on about finding our passion and working towards it, to achieve it. I really liked one of her advices, which say “Being a good person is more important than how beautiful you look or how much you earn”.

To summarize  

Our visit to RIWATCH was outstanding. We got to know about an organisation whose very mission is to work towards Empowering ethnic communities to foster sustainably by strengthening their value systems. Which is very important as cultural empowerment is very crucial for sustainable development

Our stay in RIWATCH was wonderful and we thank shri. Vijay Swami and his whole team.