Veteran Teacher Honoured as EDUNE.IN Conclave 2025 Charts Education Roadmap for Northeast

EduNe Bureau
Guwahati: The inaugural EDUNE.IN Conclave 2025 began on a high note on Friday with the conferment of the Lifetime Teachers’ Achievement Award on Shri Swadesh Chandra Roy, veteran educationist and former Headmaster of Kahilipara High School, Guwahati.

The award, recognising his decades of dedicated service to education, was jointly presented by Prof. (Dr.) Alak Kumar Buragohain, Vice-Chancellor of Assam Royal Global University (RGU), and Dr. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director of AIIMS Guwahati, before an audience of students, educators, and academic leaders.

The honour is instituted in the name of the late Dr. Namita Roy Choudhury, a reputed educationist in the field of Educational Philosophy. A distinguished Ph.D. Research Professor at the University of Mumbai, Dr. Roy Choudhury taught the core paper Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education to M.Ed and M.Phil classes and guided numerous M.Ed, M.Phil, and Ph.D. scholars. She authored several bestselling academic works, including On Philosophical Perspectives of Education, Approaches and Methods in English Language Teaching, Teaching English in Indian Schools, and Management in Education.

The conclave, organised by EDUNE.IN in collaboration with RGU and supported by ADIG and Veecap Eduventures, was held at the OPD Building Seminar Hall of Assam Royal Global University. Described by organisers as a landmark initiative to reshape the educational ecosystem of Northeast India, it attracted enthusiastic participation from institutions across the region.

In his inaugural address, Chief Guest Prof. Buragohain spoke passionately about the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling it “not just a tool but a civilized force that will impact the very course of human civilization.” His remarks set the tone for the day, which was dedicated to exploring the challenges and opportunities that AI and skill development present to education in the Northeast.

The central session featured a panel discussion on “The Importance of AI and Skill Development in Today’s Education in Northeast India.” Panelists included Dr. Ashok Puranik of AIIMS Guwahati, technology consultant Mukul Das, and Prof. Buragohain, with the discussion moderated by journalist and AI specialist Anirban Roy. While recognising AI’s far-reaching impact on future skill requirements, the panelists stressed that human intelligence remains irreplaceable. “Smart devices, after all, were conceived by the human brain itself,” one expert noted, underscoring the enduring role of human creativity and emotional intelligence in education.

Students contributed actively through an engaging interactive session. Learners from institutions such as St. Francis de Sales School, Handique Girls’ College, Don Bosco School, Radiant Academy, Rabindranath Tagore University, Arya Vidyapeeth College, and Assam Down Town University posed thought-provoking questions, including whether humans could ever be truly replaced by AI—sparking lively debate. The conclave was also graced by Prof. Pranveer Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Assam Down Town University, along with principals, department heads, and faculty members from across Guwahati.

The discussions broadened further when London-based entrepreneur and education promoter Lakhi Barua addressed the gathering. She emphasised the importance of global exposure and international opportunities in higher education, urging students from the Northeast to cultivate global perspectives while contributing to the region’s growth and development.