Dimapur, August 17: With an aim to establish an amicable relationship with seven sister states of India, Nitte University has launched four language certificate programmes in the North Eastern dialects.
With this, Nitte will become the only varsity to offer such courses on that part of the country. The 14 week course, which will commence from September, will be conducted by Namaste, Centre for Studies on North Eastern States, at Nitte Campus in Derlakatte.
“The certificate courses aim to familiarize people with a panoramic perspective about these places,” said Dr Anirbam Chakraborty, Coordinator of Namaste.
‘During the course, candidates will be taught about various states, languages, food, celebrations and traditions. The classes are planned to be held on weekends. Currently we are planning to rope in NGOs in these places, which will help carry out the work more efficiently,” he added.
The initiative was inspired and guided by P.B. Acharya, Governor of Nagaland and Assam, who inaugurated the NAMASTE Centre last November. Acharya had called for a healthy dialogue between the North-Eastern states and the rest of India. In response to that, Nitte University has reserved a few seats for the students from North Eastern States and has initiated collaborative research and exchange programmes for the students, faculty and talented youth from North-Eastern states.
Acharya inaugurated the programme on August 12 through video conference. The launch was presided by N.V. Hegde, Chancellor, Nitte University.
