BGSBU, IGNCA organise national seminar on Bakarwal community

Rajouri, Jul 28: Environmental Sciences, Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Regional Centre Jammu on Monday organized a two-day National Seminar titled “Astha, Parampara aur Prakti: Exploring the Sacred Continuum of Faith, Tradition, and Nature among the Bakarwal Community.

Registrar BGSBU, Abhishek Sharma was the chief guest at the inaugural session.

In his keynote address Sharma underscored the urgent need to preserve and promote indigenous knowledge systems that are rapidly eroding in the face of modernisation, climate change and cultural homogenisation.

He emphasized that the Bakarwal community embodies a sustainable way of life, deeply rooted in ecological balance and spiritual wisdom.

“Their traditions are not relics of the past, but living systems of knowledge that offer critical lessons in environmental conservation, resilience, and community cohesion,” he said.

Abhishek Sharma further said the time has come for academic institutions, policymakers, and civil society to recognise the value of indigenous voices and integrate them into mainstream development narratives.

“We must create platforms like this seminar to celebrate, learn from, and protect the intangible heritage of nomadic communities like the Bakarwals, who for generations have lived in harmony with the natural world,” he added.