NAMSAI, AUG 15:
The Tai Khamti Heritage Archive website was launched at the Multipurpose Cultural Hall here on Saturday by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, marking a significant step towards digitally preserving and promoting the linguistic, literary and cultural heritage of the Tai Khamti community.
Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom, Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Commissioner of Narcotics, Tax and Excise CR Khampa, Superintendent of Police, Namsai, representatives of community-based organisations, Gaon Burahs, monks, student organisations and other dignitaries attended the launch.
The digital archive seeks to preserve oral traditions, traditional knowledge, photographs, manuscripts, scripts, language, customs and other cultural resources of the Tai Khamti community, while making them accessible for education, research and knowledge sharing.
Welcoming the gathering, Golden Pagoda Head Monk Ven. Vimmalatissa stressed the need for systematic documentation and digitisation of Tai Khamti heritage. He called for active participation of schools, monasteries and community institutions in preserving and transmitting the community’s cultural identity.
Nanda Foundation Chairman Mrinal Talukdar introduced the project and urged the younger generation to actively contribute to preserving the Tai Khamti language, script, manuscripts and traditions through digital platforms.
Commissioner CR Khampa emphasised the importance of documenting the contributions and knowledge of senior elders and traditional knowledge holders, describing their experiences as an invaluable part of Tai Khamti heritage.
DC Lobsang Tsering termed the initiative an important step towards preserving and digitising the Tai Khamti script and cultural heritage and ensuring wider access to these resources for future generations.
MLA Namchoom appreciated the initiative and stressed the need to preserve the Tai Khamti language and script for younger generations. He called upon the community to take collective responsibility for safeguarding its cultural identity.
Addressing the gathering, Mein highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Tai Khamti community and said preservation of language and culture was a collective responsibility. He urged the community to undertake necessary initiatives to ensure that the language continues to be taught and used.
Mein suggested that Tai Khamti could be promoted as a third language in schools from Class I onwards in Namsai district, subject to the required institutional and educational framework. He also stressed the need to appoint Tai Khamti language teachers in monasteries to facilitate structured learning.
He encouraged the younger generation to learn and use the language and remain connected with their cultural roots, while making effective use of the digital archive for learning, research and preservation.
The public can access the archive at khamtis.org.
The launch was described as an important step towards ensuring that Tai Khamti language, script, traditions, knowledge and cultural heritage are preserved and passed on to future generations.
