SHILLONG: The National Law University of Meghalaya (NLUM) hosted Prof Emeritus Dr Hermann Kreutzmann, Chair of Human Geography at Freie Universität Berlin, for a special lecture titled “From Himalayan Exploration to Comparative Mountain Research” at the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Auditorium on April 27.
The session was inaugurated by Dr Lavinia Mawlong, Assistant Professor, National Law University of Meghalaya, who laid the context of Prof Dr Kreutzmann’s research and linked his work to the university’s current courses on Comparative Development Perspectives and Migration.
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The distinguished panel for the discussion included Vice Chancellor in charge KM Lyngdoh Nongbri, MHJS, Registrar Prof Dr Baharul Islam, Dr S Ellika Assumi, Assistant Professor, National Law University of Meghalaya, and Sabine Felmy.
Prof Dr Kreutzmann recounted the historical foundation of mountain studies. His comparative framework sought to understand the genesis of the Himalayas and how human beings utilized diverse ecological zones.
He highlighted the 1850s expeditions of the Schlagintweit brothers who successfully mapped the region by collaborating with native explorers like Nain Singh.
The presentation also featured rare archival material, including visuals from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
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Outlining directions for contemporary scholarship, he presented several frameworks for modern research and analyzed mountain regions through two critical lenses of marginality and fragility.
The concluding discussion addressed issues of isolation and how modern law should reconcile static legal borders with the legal geographies of tribal communities.
The event concluded with acknowledgement of the participation of students and faculty from five other academic institutions from Shillong.