CUO Hosts National Conference on Tribal Literature and Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Memory Tribal Epistemologies Offer Sustainable Futures:Expert

Report by Nishapati Nayak (Sub-Editor) : The Department of English Language and Literature at the Central University of Odisha, Koraput, successfully organised a two-day National Conference titled “Voices from the Hills: Tribal Literature, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Cultural Memory – A Multidisciplinary Perspective” on 13–14 February 2026. The conference brought together eminent scholars, writers and researchers from across the country to deliberate on the rich heritage of tribal communities and the urgency of preserving their cultural memory.
The inaugural session was graced by Chief Guest Prof. Kishore Kumar Basa, eminent anthropologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, and former Chairperson of the National Monuments Authority. The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty, noted scholar of English literature, Hon’ble Member of the University Grants Commission and former Vice-Chancellor of CUO. The special invitee was Dr. Damyanti Beshra, distinguished tribal writer and Padma Shri awardee.

The programme was presided over by Vice-Chancellor I/c. Prof. Narasingha Charan Panda in the presence of Registrar Rakesh Kumar Lenka and Finance Officer Duryodhan Sethi. The conference was convened by Dr. Nirjharini Tripathy, Head of the Department of English Language and Literature.

In his presidential address, Prof. Panda underscored the significance of tribal culture in shaping the nation’s composite identity. “Tribal culture is not peripheral but a major and integral part of Indian culture,” he said. “This is the time to listen to and understand the voices of tribal communities rather than impose external cultural frameworks upon them.” He urged participants to internalise the insights shared by the speakers “for the sake of tribal communities and for the greater good of our country.”
Prof. Basa emphasized the centrality of tribal epistemology and ethnographic sensitivity in understanding Indigenous societies.

“Tribal communities flourish most authentically within their natural ecological settings, where their knowledge systems evolve organically with the environment,” he observed. He cautioned that external interventions often reinterpret tribal values through frameworks disconnected from lived realities, leading to marginalisation. Calling upon scholars to “listen to the voices from the hills,” he stressed that oral traditions, ritual practices and ecological wisdom are sophisticated knowledge systems. “Tribal epistemologies are not relics of the past; they offer vital insights for building sustainable and equitable futures, especially in times of environmental crisis,” he added.
In his keynote address, Prof. Mohanty presented a broad overview of the need to preserve and promote diverse tribal cultures across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas. He stressed the urgency of creating “a level playing ground for marginalized tribal cultures of India to articulate themselves in literary, cultural and socio-economic terms.” Referring to the intersection of tribal literature with social sciences and translation studies, he asserted that “the translator must become visible in the global literary grid” and urged conscious translators to free themselves from “global print capitalism” to ensure justice for marginalized tribal voices, especially from Odisha.

Dr. Damyanti Beshra offered an illuminating account of the cultural and religious practices of the Juang tribe of Keonjhar district. Referring to colonial imagery such as the “red cap,” she noted how symbols of authority once instilled fear among Indigenous communities. “Tribal people feel safest within their own dominions, where their customs and dignity are respected,” she said. She lamented that tribal communities are often reduced to objects of festivity rather than understood in the depth of their heritage, and urged collective responsibility in preserving tribal traditions for future generations.
Registrar Lenka and Finance Officer Sethi also highlighted the importance of tribal voices in national development.

Over two days, the conference hosted 26 parallel technical sessions featuring 157 research papers presented by faculty members and research scholars from Central and State Universities across India. Discussions covered tribal literature, oral traditions, indigenous knowledge systems, cultural memory and interdisciplinary approaches to marginalised narratives.

The conference concluded with vibrant academic engagement and a renewed commitment to advancing tribal and indigenous studies at national and global levels.