Imphal, September 25, 2026: Manipur University on Friday hosted the release of Waterways and Riverine Culture of Manipur & North East India, an edited volume bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives on rivers, waterways, livelihoods, culture and environmental concerns in Manipur and the wider Northeast.
The book, edited by Prof. Hanjabam Isworchandra Sharma, Prof. Shukhdeba Sharma Hanijabam and Pebam Nganthoiba Mangang, was released at the VC Court Hall, Manipur University. The programme was organised by the Department of Economics and College Development Council, Manipur University, in association with the Intellectual Forum of North East–Manipur.
Shri Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Hon’ble Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, attended the programme as Chief Guest, while Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, presided over the function. Dr. T. Brajakumar Singh, Director, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur, attended as Guest of Honour. Prof. Memcha Loitongbam, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Manipur University, delivered the keynote address.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. Damodar Nepram, Head, Department of Economics, Manipur University, said the volume brings together 13 articles dealing with rivers and waterways of Manipur and Northeast India. The contributions cover themes ranging from drainage systems and ancient waterways to riverine culture, livelihoods and the relationship between communities and rivers.
He said rivers have played a vital role in shaping the region’s history, culture and economy and expressed confidence that the volume would serve as a useful reference for students, researchers, policymakers and others interested in the subject.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Memcha Loitongbam said the volume approaches waterways from geographical, historical, ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives. A river, she said, is much more than a channel through which water flows; it can be a source of livelihood, a route of communication, a carrier of memory, a part of cultural identity and a connector between communities.
Referring to the Imphal, Iril, Thoubal, Nambul, Sekmai and Khuga rivers, the Barak river system and Loktak Lake, Prof. Memcha said Manipur’s waterways have long been connected with fisheries, agriculture, livelihoods, biodiversity and the cultural life of its people. Rivers have historically connected hills, valleys, villages and towns and facilitated the movement of people, goods and ideas.
She also highlighted the traditional ecological knowledge developed by communities living around rivers and wetlands. Knowledge relating to seasonal water levels, fishing, agriculture, aquatic plants, floods and natural-resource management may not always be recorded in formal academic literature, she said, but remains an important part of the region’s social and cultural heritage.
Drawing attention to the changing condition of rivers, Prof. Memcha said pollution, waste disposal, encroachment, land-use change and erosion are putting increasing pressure on waterways and wetlands. The questions involved are not merely environmental but are also connected with livelihoods, inequality, communities, traditional occupations, culture and social change.
She underlined the need for cooperation, interdisciplinary research and community participation, particularly because rivers and ecological systems extend beyond administrative boundaries. Concluding her address, she observed that “a river carries more than just water” and called for development that respects ecological systems, modern science that learns from local knowledge and infrastructure that understands the landscape.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Dr. T. Brajakumar Singh, Director, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur, congratulated the editors and contributors and said the publication could serve as an important reference for scholars studying the connections between environment, culture and society.
He appealed to the present generation to protect the environmental resources inherited from earlier generations and pass them on to those who follow. Manipur’s culture and its communities, he said, have historically been closely connected with river systems, making the protection of waterways inseparable from the protection of the State’s ecological and cultural inheritance.
Dr. Brajakumar drew attention to the pressures created by development and human activities on ecosystems. He said environmental resources provide essential ecosystem services to human beings and other living organisms, but unsustainable use and excessive human demands have increasingly disturbed this relationship.
Expressing concern over the condition of Manipur’s rivers and water sources, he raised the larger question of what would remain of a riverine culture if the rivers themselves lose their water and ecological health. He said the issue was also a matter of personal concern for those working in environmental governance and required stronger collective action.
Dr. Brajakumar stressed the need for a stronger connection between research, policy and practice. Environmental policies, he said, should be supported by scientific studies, factual data and research carried out by experts. At the same time, he urged researchers to undertake studies that respond to the actual needs and environmental problems of Manipur rather than depending excessively on secondary information.
He also highlighted the importance of documenting indigenous and traditional knowledge on how earlier generations conserved rivers and other natural resources. Such knowledge, he said, should be properly documented so that it can inform both present environmental management and future generations.
Citing the Nambul River as an example, Dr. Brajakumar referred to the challenges posed by urbanisation, waste disposal and other human activities to river systems. He said rejuvenation efforts must go beyond individual rivers and form part of a sustained approach to protecting Manipur’s waterways and maintaining environmental flows.
He further emphasised the close relationship among Manipur’s hills, wetlands and rivers, saying the ecological health of one cannot be considered in isolation from the others. He called for stronger implementation of environmental rules and scientifically informed management of natural resources while balancing development requirements with ecological protection.
Introducing the volume, Prof. Hanjabam Isworchandra Sharma traced the book’s origins to an interdisciplinary seminar held on December 27 and 28, 2024. He described the publication as a “kaleidoscopic endeavour” bringing together environmental studies, geography, history, folklore and literature, sociology, economics and culture.
Prof. Isworchandra said the 13 contributions have been organised under three broad thematic areas. The first deals with the drainage system, watercraft and riverine culture of Manipur. The second focuses on navigation, livelihoods and the environment in Manipur, including boat-making, river navigation, changing riverine ecosystems, water bodies and livelihoods around Loktak Lake. The wider section extends the discussion to inland waterways and connectivity in Northeast India, traditional economy and environment, and the socio-economic and cultural dimensions of the Brahmaputra.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Shri Thokchom Satyabrata Singh congratulated the editors, contributors and organisers for bringing out a publication dealing with an issue closely connected with the life and environment of the region.
He expressed concern over the changing condition of rivers and the wider environment and stressed the need for academic research to move beyond identifying problems towards finding practical solutions. Research findings and academic discussions, he said, could also contribute to policymaking and implementation.
Referring to changes in rivers, vegetation and rainfall patterns, the Speaker underlined the need for greater public awareness and responsibility towards the protection of natural resources. He expressed hope that the volume would generate wider discussion on Manipur’s waterways and environmental challenges.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.K. Hemakumar Singh congratulated the editors and contributors and highlighted the importance of protecting rivers and the surrounding environment.
He drew attention to the deterioration of water bodies and the consequences of human activities on the environment, stressing that environmental protection cannot remain the responsibility of government alone. Individual responsibility, including keeping rivers and surroundings free from waste, is equally important, he said.
Prof. Hemakumar expressed hope that the publication would encourage further research, self-reflection and wider discussion on waterways and environmental protection and contribute towards building collective responsibility for a better Manipur.
As part of the programme, copies of the newly released volume were presented to the contributors of its chapters. Copies were also presented to the Heads of Departments of Manipur University, extending the publication’s academic reach within the University.
Dr. Pebam Nganthoiba Mangang of the Intellectual Forum of North East–Manipur delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the dignitaries, editors, contributors, scholars, faculty members, organisers, participants and all those who contributed to the programme.
The programme concluded with the hope that Waterways and Riverine Culture of Manipur & North East India would encourage further research, academic discussion and public awareness on the relationship between waterways, communities, culture, livelihoods and environmental sustainability in Manipur and Northeast India.