Tezpur, February 27, 2026 (Friday): A two-day international seminar on the theme “Water Challenges: From Ancient to Contemporary Times and Beyond” got under way at Tezpur College in Assam today, Friday 27 February 2026. The event, sponsored by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi, continues tomorrow, Saturday 28 February.
The seminar drew together academics, researchers, and policymakers from across India and beyond, with participants joining both in person and online. The inaugural session featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Prof. Arup Jyoti Saikia from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Prof. Om Katel from the Royal University of Bhutan, and Prof. Apurba Kumar Das from the Department of Environmental Science at Tezpur University.
Dr. Ritu Thaissen of Cotton University and Dr. Ranjan Kalita, Principal of Rangapara College, also addressed the gathering. Notably, Dr. Ritu Kumar Mishra, an international civil service officer based in Malawi, Africa, participated via an online link, reflecting the seminar’s global reach. Dr. Rajiv Sandikai, Academic Registrar of Gauhati University, was also among the invited speakers.
The seminar was formally inaugurated through the traditional lighting of the lamp, led by Dr. Swadhinata Mahanta, President of the Governing Body of Tezpur College and a noted litterateur. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Manoj Kumar Hazarika, Principal of Tezpur College.
The inaugural session was moderated jointly by Dr. Rupali Daimary, Head of the Department of History, and Dr. Bhanupriya Daimary, Head of the Department of Political Science. Faculty, staff, and students from Tezpur College were also present, alongside researchers from several colleges and universities across the region. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Chayanika Bhuyan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography.
The seminar is expected to generate rich academic dialogue on the historical and contemporary dimensions of water governance, scarcity, and sustainability.
