By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 28: The National Law University of Meghalaya (NLUM) hosted Prof. Emeritus Dr. Hermann Kreutzmann, Chair of Human Geography at Freie Universität Berlin, for a special lecture titled ‘From Himalayan Exploration to Comparative Mountain Research’ here on Monday.
According to a statement here, the session, held at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium, was introduced by Assistant Professor Dr. Lavinia Mawlong, who noted the relevance of the professor’s work to the university’s courses on migration and development.
In his address, Prof. Kreutzmann traced the history of mountain studies, specifically highlighting the 1850s Schlagintweit expeditions that mapped the Himalayas through collaboration with native explorers like Nain Singh.
He used the dual lenses of “marginality” and “fragility” to analyse mountain regions and shared rare historical visuals, including views of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The concluding discussion focused on the intersection of geography and law, exploring how modern legal frameworks can reconcile static state borders with the traditional legal geographies of tribal communities.
The event was also attended by Vice Chancellor (in-charge) KM Lyngdoh Nongbri, Registrar Prof. Baharul Islam and faculty members. Students and staff from five other academic institutions in Shillong also participated in the session.
