It’s a message the digital generation badly needs to hear. At a time when social media fame is chased at any cost, Governor KT Parnaik stood before a room full of young filmmakers and content creators at Rajiv Gandhi University in Rono Hills on Thursday and said something refreshingly direct — stop chasing views, start chasing meaning.
A Graduation Moment That Felt Different
The occasion was the valedictory function of TRACTION 2026, a 15-day Residency and Film Challenge organised by RGU’s Department of Mass Communication in collaboration with the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation and the Department of Industries. The programme, themed ‘Explore, Create, Move’, brought together 25 participants from eight states of Northeast India. Twenty-five films were made during the residency. Two filmmakers took home the top honours — Aron Pradhan from Meghalaya and Rinpi Das from Assam — each receiving a trophy, citation, and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Walking away with a lakh in prize money for a film made in 15 days? Not a bad start to any creative career.
The Warning Behind the Applause
Governor Parnaik didn’t just hand out awards and go home. He spoke with intention. He cautioned the participants against sensationalism and the pull of short-lived popularity, urging them instead to pursue storytelling that actually informs and educates. He was blunt about metrics too. “The real measure of success should not be views, likes or followers, but the positive impact created in society,” he said. That line alone is worth framing. He went further, stressing that integrity and credibility are the true foundations of lasting impact — not algorithms. Fact verification, cultural sensitivity, informed consent, and dignified representation were the values he placed front and centre.
Arunachal’s Untold Stories Are Waiting
Here’s where it got genuinely exciting. The governor made a compelling case for why Arunachal Pradesh itself is a goldmine for storytellers. With its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity and vibrant cultural heritage encompassing more than 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, the state offers immense opportunities for those willing to look closely. He urged the young creators to collaborate with RIWATCH, cultural organisations, local communities, and knowledge keepers to authentically document indigenous traditions. Artisans, farmers, athletes, innovators — these are the stories he said deserve a global audience. And honestly, he’s right. Arunachal has been underrepresented in mainstream media for far too long.
A Programme Worth Replicating
Course Director Moji Riba, in his report, captured what TRACTION 2026 was really about — the idea that social media is not just entertainment, it’s an emerging source of livelihoods. RGU Vice-Chancellor Prof Shivaraj, Registrar Dr NT Rikam, and Industries Director Gyabo Perting also addressed the gathering, lending institutional weight to what felt like a genuinely grassroots effort to build a new generation of responsible digital storytellers from the Northeast.
The governor closed by telling the participants that the residency was “not an end, but the beginning of a larger journey.” That’s the kind of send-off that sticks. Because the real challenge for these young creators starts now — when the cameras are off, the applause has faded, and they have to decide what kind of storyteller they actually want to be.
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