Ganga Aarti - The Spectacular Ceremony

A national seminar was organized by the department of defense studies and Geopolitical studies and the Department of Political science at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University- HNBGU- Srinagar to address the cultural, ecological, governing and security aspects of River ganga, on the Seventeenth of September 2024.

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At the seminar, Dr Girish Kumar R, HOD Department of Political Science, University of Kerala delivered a thought provoking and enthralling key note address emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to protect the River Ganga .He highlighted the intricate relationship between Ecology, culture, Governance and security stressing that effective solutions require an interdisciplinary approach. While appreciating the efforts of the HNBGU in undertaking various projects related to the conservation of river ganga, he also spoke about the various ongoing government schemes and plans. While many of these plans have roped in universities and IITs for their effective implementation,not all have been able to attain optimum yields. Dr.Girish Kumar emphasized the need for more academic interventions specially by way of research and documentation, community engagement and education, policy recommendations, international collaboration and funding and Resource mobilization to bring about sustainable solutions to the Ganga river issues.

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While answering the questions raised by the participants Dr Kumar also explained that the threats to security raised by China is a cause for serious concern as well as the problems posed by the river Perse to the people on the banks .He advocated for strenghthened institutional frameworks , enhanced community engagement and transparent decision making processes The speech would go a long way in fostering collaborative networks and partnerships, develop innovative context specific solutions and engage policymakers and stakeholders.

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Dr kumar also stressed the need to bring into the picture NGOs like Amrithagiri Himalaya to conduct community awareness programmes in order to understand the pulse of the people and to bring about tangible changes in the attitude of the people living in the Gangetic plains so that they adopt a no holds barred approach to the sincere efforts of such agencies and co operate whole heartedly. He pointed out that that the GRAMSAMBARK programme being organized by Amrithagiri Himalaya is a one of its kind initiative to be undertaken by any organization and expects it to pay off well. Dr Kumar also called for the establishment of a Ganga Knowledge centre at the University that would focus on multi disciplinary studies and build a knowledge repertoire on Ganga. The programme had as its guest of Honour Sri Denny Amrithagiri,Chairman, Amrithagiri Himalaya.

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The seminar was well attended by students and teachers alike. Prof H.C Nainwal, Dean, school of Earth Science, Prof. Prasanth Kandari, Department of Economics, Prof J.P. Bhatt, Department of Sociology, and Prof. Ashutosh Gupta, Department of Sanskrit were the others who presented papers. Er BInesh Bhatia was the covenor of the programme, Welcome address was by Prof Y. P Ralwani, Director, IQAC. After a very engaging Q and A session the seminar was wound up with the Presidential Remarks offered by Prof Himanshu Bourai and Vote of Thanks by Dr Naresh Kumar.

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