# Assam Prepares for Gaj Utsav 2026 in November to Spotlight Elephant Conservation and Coexistence

> A two-day gathering in Guwahati and Nagaon on November 12 and 13 will bring together conservationists, community leaders, and students for Gaj Utsav 2026.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Assam · **Published:** 2026-10-11 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/assam/assam-men-12-aura-13-navnbara-ko-sajega-gaj-utsav-2026-ka-mncha-hathiyon-ke-snrakshana-para-jutenge-visheshajna-46297 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Gaj Utsav 2026, Assam, Elephant Conservation, Guwahati, Wildlife Trust of India, INTACH, Parbati Barua

Guwahati is set to host Gaj Utsav 2026 on November 12 and 13, organizing a two-day collaborative convention centered on elephant welfare, human-wildlife harmony, and the heritage associated with these gentle giants. The multi-tiered event brings together wildlife biologists, cultural stalwarts, rural community members, and young students to discuss landscape-sharing approaches and the cultural legacy of elephants.

## Schedule and Venues Across Guwahati and Nagaon
The program will span two distinctive locations across the state. Activities on November 12 will kick off at 9:30 am inside the Faculty Complex in North Guwahati. On the following day, November 13, proceedings will transition to the Hati Bondhu Activity Area in Nagaon, commencing early at 8 am. The gathering is being jointly steered by the Wildlife Trust of India’s Hati Bondhu Assam along with the Assam Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, commonly known as INTACH.

## Opening Deliberations, Guests, and Honoring Train Drivers
The first day opens with a welcome address delivered by Dr Shiela Bora, followed by an overarching introduction to Gaj Utsav by INTACH Director Nerupama Modwell. Remarks from Sandeep Tiwari, chief of conservation at the Wildlife Trust of India, will establish the ecological urgency of the talks. Pradip Bhuyan, president, and Roon Bhuyan, vice-president of Hati Bondhu Assam, are slated to detail their grassroots efforts.

Attendees will also witness an interactive podcast conversation featuring Padma Shri recipient Parbati Barua, accompanied by environmental awareness exercises for local school students. Sahitya Akademi award-winning author Anuradha Sarma Pujari will join the convention as the guest of honour, while the Assam Forest Minister is scheduled to provide the chief guest address. In addition, an official felicitation ceremony will acknowledge locomotive pilots who have actively mitigated train-collision risks to protect wild elephants.

## Four Structured Panel Tracks and Public Exchange
The convention itinerary includes four core panel discussions exploring diverse facets of the elephant-human dynamic. The inaugural panel addresses elephants in cultural identity, memory, and traditional folklore. The second topic explores the physical imperatives of sharing open landscapes and creating safe passage zones for both wandering herds and village residents. The third session centers on community-led conflict mitigation strategies, while the final panel examines wildlife protection legislation and broader public accountability.

An open audience engagement segment will allow general attendees to raise questions and offer grassroots viewpoints before the session draws to a close. Rathin Barman, Northeast head of the Wildlife Trust of India, will present the concluding address followed by an official vote of thanks, before field activities resume on November 13 in Nagaon at 8 am.

## What this means for you
This convention establishes community-driven awareness to curtail human-elephant conflict and secure migration corridors.

- **Across India:** Conservation practitioners gain insights into community-led landscape sharing practices that can be replicated in other elephant-inhabited belts. The emphasis on shared territory offers practical templates for national wildlife policy frameworks.
- **In Assam:** Residents living adjacent to forest borders and rail tracks will benefit from coordinated local monitoring efforts. Recognizing vigilant train drivers and rural volunteers directly supports safer movement for wildlife and fewer accidental deaths.
- **For students:** Educational programs and podcast sessions directly introduce school children to practical environmental ethics. This helps foster an informed younger demographic mindful of wildlife protection.
- **For local administration:** Discussions around regulatory measures provide field officials with collaborative insights to manage conflict points. Joint action between trusts and forest authorities improves emergency response times.

## Why this happened
The event is being convened to address escalating human-elephant encounters and find sustainable methods for landscape coexistence.

- **Habitat fragmentation:** Traditional elephant migration corridors face mounting pressure from regional expansion, driving wild herds closer to human settlements. Addressing safe movement corridors has therefore become an urgent priority.
- **Railway corridor hazards:** Wild herds crossing railway lines face fatal accidents unless train drivers and field monitors coordinate effectively. Highlighting vigilance and recognizing locomotive pilots is crucial to preventing track casualties.
- **Need for community stewardship:** Long-term wildlife preservation depends on the active cooperation and cultural traditions of rural communities living beside elephant corridors. Involving grassroots organizations bridges policy mandates with local realities.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When and where will Gaj Utsav 2026 take place?
The event will be held on November 12 at the Faculty Complex in North Guwahati and on November 13 at the Hati Bondhu Activity Area in Nagaon.

### 2. Who are the primary organizers of the event?
It is organized by the Wildlife Trust of India’s Hati Bondhu Assam along with the Assam Chapter of INTACH.

### 3. Who are the designated chief guest and guest of honour?
The Assam Forest Minister will deliver the chief guest address, and author Anuradha Sarma Pujari will be the guest of honour.

### 4. Why are locomotive pilots being felicitated at the convention?
They will be recognized for their vigilant actions in avoiding train-elephant collisions and keeping tracks safe.

### 5. What key activities are scheduled for the opening day?
The first day features a podcast with Parbati Barua, school activities, four structured panel discussions, and an audience exchange.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._