Kashmir Impulse Desk

Ganderbal, June 4

A three-day workshop on ethnography, community engagement, water resources and governance concluded at the North Cliff Campus of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) in Ganderbal, bringing together researchers, academics, students and policy experts from across the country.

The workshop ‘Ethnography and Documentation of Cultures: Community Engagement, Water Resources and Governance’, was jointly organised by the Anthropos India Foundation (AIF), the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), and the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir (KUU), with support from the Ministry of Culture and SKUAST-K.

The programme focused on ethnographic research methods, participatory rural appraisal, community documentation, governance studies and policy engagement.

Participants also took part in field-based learning exercises in Mamar village to gain practical experience in community interaction and participatory research techniques.

Organisers said the workshop featured sessions led by experts from academic and research institutions across India, addressing issues related to cultural documentation, governance and sustainable development.

A key highlight of the event was the release of the book ‘Children’s Rights, Vulnerabilities and Protection in Disasters’, edited by Prof Shazia Manzoor and Javaid Rashid. The latest edition of Anthro Bulletin, the monthly digital magazine of AIF, was also launched during the valedictory session.

Speaking at the closing session, Prof Syed Naseem Geelani stressed the importance of community-led initiatives for supporting forest-dependent communities, improving livelihoods and promoting conservation of natural resources.

Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registrar of the Central University of Kashmir, highlighted the role of ethnographic documentation in preserving Kashmir’s cultural heritage.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Vasu Yadav, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, underscored the importance of participatory research in strengthening governance and advancing sustainable development.

The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants and a call for greater research-driven community engagement and cultural documentation initiatives across the region.