By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 9: A two-day national seminar on ‘Media and Democracy: Perspectives and Challenges in North East India’ was held at the Synod College Auditorium, Shillong.
Organised by the Department of Political Science (UG), Synod College, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the event was co-sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research – North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC), Shillong, and the State Bank of India, Iewduh Branch, Shillong.
It brought together academics from across the Northeast, students, and media professionals.
Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), SS Rynjah, attended the inaugural session as chief guest. In his address, he stressed that the seminar’s theme was both timely and relevant, cautioning against a growing trend in which those in power increasingly control the media, thereby influencing public opinion and the functioning of democracy.
Highlighting the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in today’s media landscape, he invoked Khasi traditions of indigenous folk media and the principle of ‘ka hok ka shi kyntien’ (truth in the word) to emphasise the enduring power of words and the need for truthfulness and responsibility in the digital era.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Mahendra P Lama of Jawaharlal Nehru University called for reimagining the Northeast’s role in India, urging its transformation from a “border” to a “borderland” through improved connectivity, economic integration, and the use of soft power.
He likened the region to the “chicken head” of India — connected to the mainland by the narrow “chicken neck” corridor — and advocated establishing key institutions in the North East to empower the region to lead in its own right.
Over the two days, technical sessions explored themes such as Media, Democracy and Governance; Media and Electoral Politics; Media and Political Communication; Media, Technology and the Future of Democracy; and Media and Ethnic Conflict. Eminent scholars including Prof B Viju Kumar, Prof J Doungel, Prof KH Kabi, and Patricia Mukhim contributed to the discussions.
A total of fifteen papers were presented on various topics related to the seminar’s theme.