The inaugural session of the 3rd International Conference of the Global Plant Humanities Network opened at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, with a distinguished gathering of scholars, academics, researchers, students and collaborators from different institutions and countries.
The programme began with the felicitation of dignitaries, followed by a welcome group song presented by the students of the Department of English, NEHU, Shillong. The opening set a warm and ceremonial tone for the conference, bringing together participants from the Global Plant Humanities Network, North Eastern Hill University, The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and other associated and collaborating bodies.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Jyotimoy Pradhani, Head of the Department of English, NEHU, welcomed the dignitaries, faculty members, teachers, students, researchers, presenters and participants associated with the event. He acknowledged the collective efforts of the organising and collaborating institutions in making the conference possible and extended greetings to all those attending the gathering.
Dr. Goutam Majhi, President and one of the founding members of the Global Plant Humanities Network (GPHN) and Assistant Professor of English at Sadhan Chandra Mahavidyalaya, affiliated with the University of Calcutta, described the occasion as one of the most historic and unique gatherings of recent times. In his speech, he highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the conference, noting how it meaningfully connects botany, ecology, environmental studies, sociology, the humanities and the social sciences.
Reflecting on the wider journey of the conference, Dr. Majhi noted that this was the third international conference of its kind, following earlier editions in Kolkata and Kathmandu. He fondly recalled the earlier conferences and expressed appreciation for the contributions of collaborators from Australia, Portugal, Finland, Cotton University, Assam and other institutions. He also shared his happiness at receiving more than 200 abstracts for presentation and remarked that the conference had already emerged as a success.
Guest of Honour Prof. Moon Moon Mazumdar, Dean, School of Humanities, NEHU Shillong, spoke on the interrelationship between literature, agriculture, environment, and ecology. Recalling Rabindranath Tagore’s vision at Santiniketan, she referred to his efforts toward sustainable agriculture, village-based employment and community-oriented development. She described Tagore as a multifaceted and early environmental thinker whose ideas connected art, music, imagination and ecological sensitivity long before environmentalism became an established field of study.
Prof. Mazumdar also noted Tagore’s affection for the Saal trees of Santiniketan and emphasised that community-driven projects and plant humanities are deeply interrelated. She appreciated the efforts of the organisers and collaborators in bringing together such a meaningful and timely event.
Chief Guest Prof. Sumarbin Umdor, Pro Vice Chancellor, NEHU Shillong, set the tone for the conference by underlining the rarity and significance of a gathering in which botany and the humanities come together so closely. In a light-hearted opening remark, he observed that such an event was rare for him as well and expressed his happiness at being part of what he described as one of the largest and most unique gatherings of its kind.
Prof. Umdor also spoke briefly about the growth and expansion of NEHU over the years, referring to its campuses, schools, centres and affiliated colleges across Meghalaya. Connecting the conference theme with indigenous knowledge systems, he shared a Khasi folktale related to betel nut, betel leaves, lime and explained their importance in Khasi social and cultural life. He further reflected on Khasi indigenous medicine, sacred forests, food habits, myths, deities, ancestors, taboos, spiritual traditions and the larger ecological consciousness embedded in community life.
Prof. K.S. Nongkynrih, a noted poet from Meghalaya and faculty member at NEHU, added a culturally rich dimension to the inaugural session with his reflections on Khasi folklore and oral tradition. Extending the discussion on local narratives, he spoke about the transformations and interconnections among people, plants, fruits, trees, birds and landscapes in Meghalaya. He offered a deeper reading of the folktale surrounding betel nut, betel leaf, lime and tobacco, and connected these stories with colonial references and regional memory.
He also referred to the presence of John C. Ryan at the event and shared a personal note on how literary exchange and academic engagement had led to friendship and collaboration. Through wit and folklore, Prof. Nongkynrih highlighted how deeply betel nut and betel leaf are ingrained in Khasi life, illustrating how cultural practices often endure through community pride, memory, and resistance.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Ankur, one of the research scholars of NEHU. The opening programme successfully set the intellectual and cultural tone for the conference by foregrounding interdisciplinarity, indigenous knowledge, ecological thinking and the growing importance of plant humanities in contemporary scholarship.
The conference is being held in Shillong, Meghalaya from 8 to 10 May 2026, with sessions hosted at NEHU and EFLU venues. It includes keynote lectures, technical sessions, cultural programmes and a closing ceremony. The event reflects the growing importance of plant humanities as an interdisciplinary field connecting literature, environmental thoughts, indigenous knowledge and cultural studies.