ROING, May 3: Members of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Tenzing Norbu Thongdok and Longki Phangcho, visited the Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions Cultures and Heritage (RIWATCH) at Khinjili in Roing to review the ongoing NEC-supported project on the promotion and literary development of mother languages in Arunachal Pradesh.
The visiting team was accompanied by former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Mukut Mithi. During the visit, the NEC members inspected the project titled “Promotion and Literary Development of Mother Languages of Arunachal Pradesh” being implemented by RIWATCH.
They also toured the RIWATCH Museum, appreciating the institution’s efforts in preserving artefacts and the rich cultural heritage of tribes from Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Northeast region.
The delegation reviewed the activities of the RIWATCH Centre for Mother Languages (RCML), commending its contributions to documenting and promoting the state’s linguistic diversity through publications and outreach programmes involving native speakers, students, and teachers.
Head of RCML, Dr Mechek Sampar Awan, presented a detailed report on the Centre’s initiatives since its inception, highlighting achievements in language documentation, development of linguistic resources, and future plans to strengthen preservation efforts.
Thongdok lauded the Centre’s pioneering work and emphasised the importance of systematically archiving linguistic data for future generations. He assured that he would take up the matter with fellow NEC members to explore avenues for strengthening and expanding the project's scope.
Phangcho also appreciated RCML’s role in promoting and developing endangered languages. Highlighting the rapid pace of language endangerment in the region, he stressed the urgent need to create a comprehensive database of such languages and communities, warning that failure to act could result in the irreversible loss of linguistic diversity.
Both members reaffirmed their support for RIWATCH’s mission to document and preserve the endangered languages of Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast.