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Monishi Rangchak Tripura named NT Young Historian 2023

A Darwin High School student has been named the Territory’s Young Historian of the year thanks to his groundbreaking research.

Darwin High School student Monishi Rangchak Tripura – pictured with Solomon MP Luke Gosling – has been named the NT’s Young Historian of the year for his research on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. Picture: Steve Keough
Darwin High School student Monishi Rangchak Tripura – pictured with Solomon MP Luke Gosling – has been named the NT’s Young Historian of the year for his research on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. Picture: Steve Keough

“It was very confronting, but at the same time, it had to be done.”

That was the sentiment shared by Darwin High School student Monishi Rangchak Tripura, who has been named the NT’s Young Historian of the year for his research on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997.

Mr Tripura interviewed representatives of the Chittagong Hill Tracts regional councils, ex-insurgency fighters, and displaced people for his essay and said his findings filled research gaps.

“The study of history is very important because otherwise we are just lost, there’ll be no identity without history,” he said.

“I would love if someone picked it up and did further research on this (topic).”

Darwin High School student Monishi Rangchak Tripura has been named the NT’s Young Historian of the year for his research on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. Picture: Steve Keough
Darwin High School student Monishi Rangchak Tripura has been named the NT’s Young Historian of the year for his research on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. Picture: Steve Keough

Mr Tripura said he was inspired to write an essay about the Accord due to both his family connection to the historic event as well as a motivation to bridge research gaps.

“My family comes from that area, and we were severely impacted by the things that went on during the conflict,” he said.

“There are no resources available for this kind of history, so it was very good because I created primary resources by conducting field level research back in Bangladesh.”

Solomon MP Luke Gosling said Mr Tripura’s research expertly addressed the National History Challenge’s 2023 theme, ‘change and continuity’.

“I couldn’t have been prouder to shake this young man’s hand at Parliament House and congratulate him on such an awesome academic achievement,” Mr Gosling said.

“The study of history teaches students so much more than what happened in the past.

“It teaches us to think, to question, to analyse and interpret.”

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/monishi-rangchak-tripura-named-nt-young-historian-2023/news-story/a493e853abba333b01eca3d5df384ea1