Shillong, May 30: Meghalaya’s Art and Culture Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, has urged young people to harness creativity as a powerful force in the face of an increasingly technological world.
Speaking at the final event of the art exhibition ‘Shared Stories’, a collaboration between Artists Point International Art Residency and the Shillong Art Symposium, Lyngdoh emphasized that imagination, expression, and emotional intelligence are humanity’s strongest assets.
“In this age of AI, our only true weapon is our natural mind, our imagination, expression, and emotional intelligence,” Lyngdoh told the audience at the State Convention Centre on Friday. He described art not just as a subject, but as the very essence of life. “Remove ‘art’ from ‘Earth’ and all you’re left with is ‘eh’,” he quipped, reinforcing the idea that creativity is central to human existence.
The minister reflected on the month-long initiative under Samagra Shiksha, which brought together student artists from across Meghalaya. He commended the Education Department for fostering unity through art—something, he remarked, that politics and division often fail to achieve. “Students from diverse backgrounds and geographical boundaries have come together through art—something politics or divisions cannot do,” he noted.
Encouraging students to express themselves, Lyngdoh stressed that stories, emotions, and dreams find their truest form through creative mediums. He shared the story of a young boy whose life transformed simply because he was handed a piece of wood and given the freedom to create. “We all have a Picasso within us,” he said, urging young minds to explore their artistic potential.
Lyngdoh also recalled a deeply personal moment from a national event where a young girl’s painting captured her fears, hopes, and reality in a single image. “That is the power of art,” he reflected, visibly moved.
Supporting this message, Education Department Secretary Swapnil Tembe highlighted the department’s renewed focus on holistic student development. Addressing the gathering, he stressed the importance of creative self-expression in education. Among the department’s new initiatives is Back to School, a culturally contextual comic book series designed to resonate with the everyday realities of Meghalaya’s students.
Tembe shared his own experiences with art and writing, explaining how they contribute to emotional resilience and self-confidence. “Art is expression. When you give voice to your thoughts, you feel good,” he said, encouraging students to explore music, painting, writing, and other creative outlets alongside their academics.
Recognizing the limited exposure many students face, Tembe urged them to actively follow the Education Department’s platforms for information on scholarships, competitions, and career paths related to the arts. He cited the example of a student who, despite family pressure to become an engineer, followed her passion for art and is now a successful curator running her own company.
Both Lyngdoh and Tembe sent a strong message: in a world increasingly shaped by technology, humanity’s true strength lies in its ability to imagine, to feel, and to create.
