Governor KT Parnaik has stated that the Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures and Heritage (RIWATCH) has the potential to become a global hub for comparative civilisational studies, indigenous research, and intercultural dialogue, attracting scholars, researchers, and students from across the world.
The governor made this observation during a meeting with the governing council of RIWATCH at the Lok Bhavan in Itanagar on Friday. The meeting discussed the vision of elevating RIWATCH to UWATCH (University of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures and Heritage), a globally recognised centre of excellence for the study, preservation, and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems, traditional cultures, heritage studies, and sustainable living practices.
According to Governor Parnaik, such an institution would not only preserve humanity’s ancient wisdom but also inspire future generations to draw lessons from traditional knowledge in addressing contemporary challenges and building a more sustainable and harmonious world. He also lauded RIWATCH for its 15 years of contribution to research, documentation, preservation, and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.
Established in 2009 in Roing, RIWATCH has emerged as one of the leading cultural research institutions in Northeast India, serving as a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary knowledge systems. The governor highlighted the vital role played by RIWATCH in safeguarding the invaluable cultural legacy of the indigenous communities of the state through its ethnographic museum, documentation centre, centre for mother languages, research publications, audiovisual archives, and community-based initiatives.
The governor commended RIWATCH’s efforts in promoting cultural empowerment, linguistic preservation, sustainable development, and community participation, thereby creating a model where heritage conservation contributes to social and economic progress. RIWATCH Chairman Dr Joram Begi led the council members during the meeting, which was also attended by RIWATCH Executive Director Vijay Swami, academic adviser Dr AK Tripathy, and member Tayum Tok.
RIWATCH has documented oral traditions, folk narratives, rituals, languages, and traditional ecological knowledge, and has fostered academic collaborations with national and international universities and research institutions. The institute’s efforts have been instrumental in preserving the rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and promoting sustainable development in the region.
