Ganderbal, June 4 (KNS) : A three-day national workshop on “Ethnography and Documentation of Cultures: Community Engagement, Water Resources and Governance” concluded successfully at the North Cliff Campus, Ganderbal, after bringing together researchers, academicians, students and policy experts from across the country.
The workshop, held from June 1 to 3, was jointly organized by Anthropos India Foundation (AIF), Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), and the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K).
The programme was inaugurated on June 1 by distinguished dignitaries from academia, governance and research institutions. Dr. Javaid Rashid of the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir, welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the workshop. An overview of the programme was presented by Prof. Sunita Reddy, Founder-Chairperson of Anthropos India Foundation and Professor at JNU, and Prof. Amitabh Pande, Director, IGRMS, Bhopal.
Special remarks were delivered by Dr. Syed Naseem Geelani, Professor and Head, SKUAST-K, and Prof. Shabnum Ara, Head, Department of Sociology, Amar Singh College. Dr. Idrees Kanth of BML Munjal University delivered guest remarks, while Dr. Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Director, Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis, IUST, addressed the gathering as Chief Guest.
The workshop focused on ethnographic research methods, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), community documentation, governance studies and policy engagement. Participants also undertook field-based learning exercises in Mamar village, gaining practical exposure to community interactions and participatory research techniques.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
A major highlight of the event was the release of the book “Children's Rights, Vulnerabilities and Protection in Disasters,” edited by Prof. Shazia Manzoor and Dr. Javaid Rashid. The latest issue of Anthro Bulletin, AIF’s monthly digital magazine, was also launched during the valedictory session.
Speaking at the valedictory session, Dr. Syed Naseem Geelani emphasized the need for community-led initiatives to support forest-dependent communities, enhance livelihood opportunities and promote conservation of forest resources. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registrar, Central University of Kashmir, highlighted the importance of ethnographic documentation in preserving Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage.
The valedictory session was addressed by Sh. Vasu Yadav, IFS, Chairman, J&K PCC, who attended as Chief Guest and underscored the role of participatory research in strengthening governance and sustainable development.
The workshop featured a distinguished panel of resource persons, including Prof. Sunita Reddy (JNU/AIF), Prof. Amitabh Pande (IGRMS, Bhopal), Dr. Javaid Rashid (University of Kashmir), Dr. Idrees Kanth (BML Munjal University), Dr. Farukh Faheem (Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir), Dr. Khirod Moharan (Department of Anthropology, University of Allahabad), Dr. Ritu Khanduri (University of Texas at Arlington) and Ms. Saba Farhin.
The workshop concluded with certificate distribution and a call for strengthening research-driven community engagement and cultural documentation initiatives across the region. The programme was coordinated by Saba Farhin, AIF.(KNS)