Core Committee of Centre for Endangered Languages and Multilingualism, Gauhati University Holds Strategic Meeting

Guwahati, July 17 : Gauhati University convened the inaugural Core Committee meeting of the Centre for Endangered Languages and Multilingualism (CELM) on 17 July 2026 at noon in the Conference Hall of the Office of the Vice Chancellor. The meeting was presided over by Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University. The meeting brought together Core Committee members Prof. Kamaluddin Ahmed, Prof. Dilip Borah, Prof. Chandana Sarmah, Dr. Nairit Barkataky, Dr. Satyajit Sarmah, Dr. Krishna Boro, Dr. Nivedita Malini Barua, Medini Mohan Gogoi and Dr. Palash Kumar Nath. Prof. Utpal Sarma (Registrar, GU) and Prof. Rajib Handique (Academic Registrar, GU) were also  present in the meeting and provided their valuable suggestions for the future growth of the centre. Community representatives Mr. Manje La, Peimthee Gohain, and Pyoseng Chowlu also participated in the meeting reflecting the Centre's commitment to collaborative engagement with indigenous language communities.

Centre for Endangered Languages and Multilingualism was announced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma at the Gauhati University convocation which was held on the 25th April, 2025. Since then the University authority led by the hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta has undertaken various administrative steps towards establishment of the centre. As part of this effort a highpowered Steering Committee and a Core Committee was formed to guide various aspects of the centre. 

This meeting was held with the objective of shedding light on various matters related to the centre that has been established for the purpose of addressing the challenge of endangerment of ethnic languages and cultures in Northeast India.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Core Committee and the esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta, welcomes all the members present at the meeting and proceeds with the agenda of the meeting.

Dr. Palash Kumar Nath, Nodal Officer of CELM, presented a comprehensive overview of the Centre's context, strategic roadmap, and future initiatives. The Centre has been established as a flagship initiative of Gauhati University to advance the documentation, preservation, and revitalization of endangered languages across Northeast India, while simultaneously conducting rigorous research into the multilingual dynamics of the region, with particular emphasis on multilingual education.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mahanta expressed confidence that CELM will fulfill Gauhati University's long-standing commitment to supporting and advancing the languages and cultures of indigenous and ethnic communities in the Northeast. He underscored the University's role in serving these communities through evidence-based research and community-centred documentation practices.

Committee members provided valuable feedback and recommendations, emphasizing the importance of sustained administrative and academic support from the University to enable the Centre's research and community engagement mandates. The discussions reflected a shared institutional commitment to making CELM a centre of excellence in endangered language documentation and multilingual education research.