The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, here today, announced the introduction of the country's first-ever recognized Post Graduation Masters' degree course in Northeast studies. The announcement was made by him after a visit to the Centre for Northeast Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia University where he convened a meeting with Vice Chancellor, Prof. Talat Ahmed, Head of Northeast Studies, Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika and other faculty members to give a final shape to the decision. Dr. Jitendra Singh said, for India this is a totally new and unique initiative of its kind because this will be for the first time that any Indian University will introduce a formal recognized Post Graduation Degree Course in region based studies. The concept of region based research and study within a university was, by and large, hitherto unknown in the Indian academia and mostly existed in some European universities and therefore, with the introduction of this course, not only the Jamia Millia Islamia University will acquire a distinct identity of its own but the Northeastern part of India will also earn a unique academic distinction.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, there is often talk of bringing Northeast closer to mainstream India but he has personally always subscribed to the idea of simultaneously bringing mainstream India closer to Northeast. The new initiative, therefore, would be a promising step in that direction, he added. It is a little known fact, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, that Northeast has a very high literacy rate with a small State like Mizoram recording a literacy rate of 92% to 93%, second only to Kerala. In addition, he said, students and faculty of Northeast origin are making a very valuable contribution in the leading colleges and universities of union capital and other Indian metros. Dr. Jitendra Singh said, DoNER plans to promote Centres for Northeast Studies as resource banks for people from outside Northeast to understand and study the exclusive culture and richness of that region. He assured the Vice Chancellor that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will offer all its cooperation in making the initiative successful.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Talat Ahmad and the Head of North East Study Centre, Prof Sanjoy Hazarika informed the Minister that while a formal PG Master’s course in Northeast studies will begin from next academic session, one optional paper on Northeast has already been introduced in post graduation exam from the current academic year.