Reimagining Education through the North East lens

Written By: Dhriti Jha

Graphic Design By: Sonika Krishnan

The story of education in India’s North East is one of resilience, shadowed by the struggles of the region. While the region is often celebrated for its cultural diversity and high literacy rates, the reality faced by students tells a more complex tale. In many villages, classrooms are still lit by kerosene lamps when electricity fails; teachers travel long distances to reach their schools, and children walk for hours across uneven terrain just to attend classes. Higher education opportunities remain limited, and those who migrate to metropolitan cities in search of better prospects often encounter discrimination and cultural isolation.

At Libernium 2026, hosted by the Liberal Arts Department at CHRIST University, Bannerghatta Road Campus, these realities were not treated as distant statistics but as human experiences that demand empathy and action. The event created a space where voices from marginal communities could be heard, reminding us that education is not only about literacy rates or exam scores, but about dignity, identity, and belonging. Through conversations, performances, and critical reflection, Libernium emphasized that the challenges of the North East are inseparable from India’s larger struggle to make education inclusive and humane.

One of the most striking discussions centered on Mizoram. The state is often portrayed as progressive, with women seen to hold higher positions in society and enjoy relative empowerment. Yet beneath this perception lies a harsher truth. Women in Mizoram, like elsewhere in India, continue to face patriarchal mindsets and subtle forms of oppression. They may be celebrated in rhetoric, but in reality, many still struggle against traditional expectations and limited opportunities. This paradox reveals how education must go beyond textbooks and classrooms to challenge stereotypes and empower students to question inherited biases. Although geographically distant from the mainland, the region’s heart remains deeply connected to us and to India as a whole.

The event also shed light on the emotional dimensions of education in the region. Students from the North East often battle isolation, stereotypes, and exam pressures without adequate support systems. Their struggles highlight the urgent need for mental health awareness and counseling within schools and colleges. Libernium 2026 brought these issues to the forefront, urging us to see education not as a uniform system, but as one that must be tailored to context, culture, and community.

What made Libernium truly unique was its spirit. It was not a conference of abstract debates, but a gathering rooted in empathy and imagination. It asked difficult but necessary questions: How can classrooms honor diversity? How can policies bridge regional disparities? And how can education nurture both intellect and identity? The answers were not simple, but the intent was clear. Education in India must be reimagined as a system that nurtures resilience, inclusivity, and humanity.

By spotlighting the North East, Libernium 2026 reminded us that the future of Indian classrooms will only be bright if every region, including those at the margins, is given the tools, respect, and opportunities it deserves. More than an event, Libernium became a call to action, a reminder that education is not just about producing graduates, but about nurturing citizens who carry both knowledge and compassion.