Morung Express News
Mokokchung | 03 March (MexN): The Department of English at Fazl Ali College organized concluded its annual Lit Colloquium IV, featuring a discourse by speaker, Roderick Wijunamai on 03 March at the college conference hall. The colloquium, explored the intricate relationship between literature, environment, and indigenous knowledge, with a specific focus on the “Speculative Turn in the Anthropocene: Towards a Naga Environmental Humanities.”
Roderick Wijunamai in his talk broke down the meaning of Anthropocene, a geological epoch characterized by significant human impact on the Earth’s ecosystems. He explored how speculative thinking, particularly within the context of Naga environmental humanities, can offer innovative perspectives on various concepts.
Wijunamai’s insightful analysis mentioned that by integrating local narratives with contemporary environmental discourse we can foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between human societies and the natural world. He emphasized the need to move beyond the western or west centric epistemology and ontology.
“What environmental humanities encourages us is that as literary scholars, humanities and social sciences we cannot be contented by folk lores or oral history alone,” he said. “We also have to turn to working sciences and write and work towards a possible future.” He added that the speculative turn is about writing about the Naga world where spirits and robots meet. It is about writing about our great ancestors and developing new narratives and approaches.
He concluded his talk by stating that Environmental humanities today is an invitation to think beyond disciplines to also step into this very moment when we as something not scientific enough is invited to be part-takers of this great story making and future making.
The colloquium ended with a Q&A session with the speaker and a note of gratitude from Dr. I. Wati Imchen, principal, FAC and vote of thanks from Dr. Bendangsenla, Asso. Prof, Dept. of English, FAC.
Roderick Wijunamai is a Ph.D candidate in Anthropology at Cornell Univeristy and Fellow at the Highland Institute, Kohima.
Photo Caption: Speaker, Roderick Wijunamai at Fazl Ali College.
