International Webinar Addresses Restoration and Safeguarding of Manuscripts and Historic Materials Damaged in Assam Floods
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati, Oct 4 : An international webinar on “Restoration, Safeguarding and Preservation of Manuscripts and Other Historic Articles Destroyed in the Recent Assam Flood” was held recently bringing together heritage scholars, conservation specialists, and representatives of international heritage organizations to discuss the urgent challenges of rescuing and preserving Assam’s vulnerable documentary and material heritage.
The webinar was organized by the North East Zone of ICOMOS India, in collaboration with its eminent partner Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva, ICICH–ICOMOS, ICOMOS India, and the Cotton Collegiate Ex-Students’ Group: 1976. The programme was moderated by Dilip Changkakoty, Coordinator, North East Zone and Treasurer, ICOMOS India.
The programme opened with an address by Dr Rima Hooja, President, ICOMOS India, who reflected upon her experience of dealing with heritage-related disasters and highlighted the need for appropriate strategies for responding to the present situation. She also invited wider international professional engagement and guidance in addressing the challenges posed by the recent floods.
Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti, one of the panelists, briefly presented the aims and objectives of the Society for Srimanta Sankaradeva and explained the circumstances and rationale behind the initiative undertaken for the rescue and safeguarding of Sanchipat manuscripts and other endangered heritage materials.
The webinar also featured Dr Ángel Cabeza Monteira, President, ICICH–ICOMOS, as the Special Invitee. In his intervention, he proposed the possibility of developing a wider international campaign to mobilize resources for the restoration, registration, and copying of manuscripts, while encouraging the sharing of the experience, commitment, and conservation work undertaken in Assam with the wider international heritage community.
The principal presentation was delivered by Mridu Moucham Bora, Manuscript Conservation Specialist and Researcher, Assam, who presented a detailed account of the various stages of the rescue and safeguarding initiative. His presentation documented the processes, practical challenges, and conservation considerations involved in responding to heritage materials affected by the flood, thereby providing valuable field-based insights into emergency heritage conservation.
The concluding address was delivered by Dr Mrinalini Atrey, Secretary General, ICICH–ICOMOS, who acknowledged the efforts of the North East Zone of ICOMOS India and expressed appreciation for the overall initiative and the collaborative process through which the experience of Assam’s heritage conservation community was brought to an international professional forum.
The webinar concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dilip Changkakoty, Coordinator, North East Zone and Treasurer, ICOMOS India. He expressed gratitude to the speakers, the international and national heritage organisations, collaborating institutions, and all participants whose engagement contributed to the successful completion of the programme.
The webinar reaffirmed the importance of an integrated, community-oriented and internationally collaborative approach to disaster-risk management for cultural heritage. The discussions also underscored the need to move beyond emergency rescue towards systematic documentation, conservation, registration, reproduction, knowledge-sharing, and long-term safeguarding of Assam’s vulnerable manuscript and heritage traditions.
