New Art Players organised a panel discussion on ‘Globalization – The Indian Angle’ as part of its Diamond Jubilee celebration at Vivekananda Kendra, Guwahati, on 1 February 2015. The event was dedicated to the memory of founder member Pradip Bordoloi.

The panel brought together Harendra Nath Das, retired Chief Secretary, Government of Assam; media professionals Samudra Gupta Kashyap and Manjit Mahanta; and writer and academician Uddipana Goswami. The discussion was moderated by eminent economist Prof Dilip Kumar Barua, retired Principal of Cotton College.

The evening began with a profile of Pradip Bordoloi presented by Mallika Barua, Secretary of the NAP Ladies Wing, and a poetry recitation in his memory by Madhurima Kakoti.

Opening the deliberations, Prof Barua traced the global linkages Assam and the Northeast have had with the wider world since ancient times, and set out the socio-cultural ramifications of globalization today. H.N. Das analysed the pros and cons of globalization in historical perspective, linking it to the happiness indices of nations, and argued that despite its demerits it would prove a blessing in the long run. Samudra Gupta Kashyap drew on his reporting experience to describe how globalization had reached even the insurgency-affected interior villages of Assam, improving opportunities and quality of life — while ruing its adverse impact on unique cultural traditions such as the Moyna Parijat.

Manjit Mahanta struck a cautionary note, warning of powerful countries taking control of resources and dictating terms — from television ratings to entire economies — in less developed nations, and calling for stronger political representation to protect regional interests. Uddipana Goswami examined Assamese identity in a globalized world, contending that inter-ethnic identities in Assam have been forged by socio-historical forces from the Burmese invasions to colonialism, and that the need of the hour is to recognise this ‘conscious globalization’.

Closing the session, the moderator posed a question to the audience: could a civilization as old as India’s really be swept away by the winds of globalization? The evening ended with a vote of thanks by Amiya Hazarika of NAP.