Tripura University marked Himalaya Day 2026 with “Cinema for Change,” featuring environmental films, filmmaker Dr. Shankar Borua’s interactive session, and discussions on climate change, Himalayan conservation, visual storytelling, environmental research, and the need for responsible community action.
Tripura University observed Himalaya Day 2026 with a special programme titled “Cinema for Change,” organised by the university’s Film Club in association with social welfare organisation MONDRA and Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC). The programme was held at the MBB Auditorium of Tripura University on Wednesday, bringing together students, faculty members, scholars and environmental enthusiasts to discuss the growing ecological challenges facing the Himalayan region.
The programme used cinema and visual storytelling as tools to create awareness about environmental protection. As part of the event, participants watched the short animated film “Save the Himalayas” (2025) and selected sequences from “Blue Ocean” (2026). The screenings were followed by an interactive session with filmmaker Dr. Shankar Borua, who engaged with students from different departments, including students of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) and members of the Tripura University Film Club.
During the interaction, Dr. Borua spoke about his experiences in producing the films and explained how cinema can be used to communicate important environmental concerns to wider audiences. Drawing from the themes explored in Blue Ocean and Save the Himalayas, he discussed climate change, the Himalayan ecological crisis, environmental communication, mental health and socially responsible visual storytelling.
Dr. Borua emphasised the need to strengthen climate change communication through academic research. He particularly highlighted the importance of PhD-level studies and called for increased research into environmental communication so that scientific and ecological concerns can be communicated more effectively to the public.
He also underlined the influence of visual storytelling and music in raising environmental awareness. According to him, songs, revolutionary rap and other creative forms can help reach wider sections of society while encouraging people to question activities that contribute to the degradation of the Himalayan ecosystem.
Dr. Sunil Kalai, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, founder of MONDRA and Teacher-in-Charge of the Tripura University Film Club, highlighted the importance of visual communication in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. He stressed that cinema can play a significant role in encouraging public awareness about the need to protect the Himalayan region.
Prof. Partha Sarathi Gupta, Dean of Students’ Welfare at Tripura University, and Prof. Sabyasachi Dasgupta of the Department of Forestry and Biodiversity also addressed the gathering. They stressed the ecological importance of the Himalayas and the need to educate people about the region’s environmental significance. They further emphasised that individual-level initiatives and responsible behaviour are essential to tackling environmental degradation.
Dr. Chandan Saha, Superintendent of Police of the Mobile Task Force (MTF), Tripura Police, appreciated Dr. Borua’s efforts to highlight Himalayan conservation through cinema and visual storytelling.
Faculty members, scholars and students from various departments attended the programme. The event gained additional significance amid increasing environmental challenges across the Himalayan region, including recent floods in Nepal.
| Also Read: TU launches 16 student clubs to develop skills beyond classrooms |
The organisers stressed that protecting the Himalayan ecosystem requires timely awareness, sustained research and responsible action at both individual and community levels. Through “Cinema for Change,” Tripura University sought to demonstrate how creative storytelling can contribute to environmental communication and encourage collective efforts toward a more sustainable future.
| Also Read: Tripura achieves zero dropout rate at primary level in 2025-26: CM |
