Heart and Craft
A man makes it his mission to check erosion in tribal culture
By Teresa Rehman
India’s North-east is like your attic. Not a place you visit very often nor one that gets too much attention. The region is rarely in the news and is at best left to fend for itself, often with disastrous results. Progress here has actually meant the arrival of western detritus. But Mutua Bahadur thinks he can change all that.
What Bahadur has achieved is phenomenal. In a region where cultural erosion is rapid, he has singlehandedly managed to spawn institutions to check that. Manipuri bamboo and cane works, jewellery, pottery, ancient manuscripts, paintings and textiles adorning miniature tribal dolls—there are 6,000 specimens now in his collection. He claims to possess the largest private collection of coins in the North-east with around 4,000 gold, silver and bell-metal coins. He is also the first to collect facsimiles of ancient Manipuri stone inscriptions despite shoe-string finances.
Artist, author, social worker, numismatist and anthropologist all rolled into one, Bahadur is a living encyclopaedia on Manipuri culture. It all started in the 1960s when the cultural identity crisis among tribal groups of Manipur and Nagaland triggered Bahadur’s efforts to identify and restore the traditional customs of the 29 Manipuri tribes. Within five years he produced a five-volume treatise, Tales About the Art and Culture of Manipur—a much sought-after book. This was the take-off point. For in these five years, Bahadur also began collecting cultural icons.
Bahadur’s exotic collection was initially housed in his residence till he established a museum in 1978 on the first floor of a rented building at Imphal. Urged by Kapila Vatsyayan, the then Union additional education secretary who had come to see his collection, he christened it Mutua Museum.
Since its inception, around 20 illustrative books, 20 other projects, several educational charts and slides and video documentation have been undertaken by the Mutua Museum. It has taken part in the restoration of defaced monuments and court mural paintings of Manipur. A major exercise was the setting up of a cultural complex for preservation and promotion of the material heritage of north-east India in 1993 in the village of Andro, 26 km from Imphal, where a “sacred fire” from ancient days burns perpetually. Besides, a “living museum” was established at Purul village in Senapati district to preserve the traditionally carved houses of the tribals.
Trips to the back of beyond have fossilised the antiquarian’s personal life. Bahadur recalls an incident. On his return from a field trip to Tamenglong district for a few weeks he found himself fending objects thrown by his irate wife. He found out why: his house was flooded. Flying utensils aren’t the only threats. Once a tribal chief threatened to kill him for wanting to know the meaning of a tribal work of art.
The trek to the Imphal museum has been arduous. Born in a poor family, Bahadur started by making and selling recycled-paper toys. His father, a Burmese Army soldier who loved travelling, inculcated the spirit of adventure in his son. Though Bahadur never completed his graduation, he is now an examiner for awarding PhDs in Manipuri culture at Manipur University. Recognition has also come in the form of the Special Designer Award in 1972 and the state Kala Academy Award in Folk Arts in 1974.
Bahadur plans to set up a composite complex of the culture of South-East Asia at Andro. Th. Ravikanta Singh, an anthropologist and lecturer and a close associate, echoes his sentiments: “There are many facets of north-east India like pottery and basket making that are similar to those in south-east Asian culture.” Says Bahadur: “It’s an ongoing process and I am dedicating the year 2001 to collecting musical instruments and tribal head-gear ornaments.”
Truth, enthusiasm and discipline are the driving forces that motivate Bahadur. Inaocha Mangang, his companion since 1978 and a graduate from Visvabharati, Santiniketan, sums it all up: “Bahadur himself is a rare specimen who should be preserved in the museum for posterity.”
In a world of neglect and uncertainty it’s nice to believe someone’s still in charge of the past.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wood Work
A pensioner converts wasteland into a forest with over 50 species
By Teresa Rehman
Jungalee, protector of the forest". It may sound like a character out of a Tolkien book, but this Jungalee is for real. Ex-serviceman Jagat Singh Chaudhary from the tiny village of Kot Malla, 4,500 ft up in the hills of Rudra Prayag, was bestowed this title at an environmental seminar in the Government Inter College at Jasauli in 1993 for having converted 1.5 hectares of wasteland into a jungle. His wife had her reservations about the epithet; people, she feared, would laugh at her husband. Nothing like that happened, for Jungalee is a famous man now and is often invited to deliver lectures at schools and colleges. He wears his unusual title with pride: "Jungalee does not mean uncivilised but being one with nature."
It all started in 1974 when Chaudhary, during his vacations, worked on his barren patch of land to grow plants for fodder and fuel. This solved the problem of the household women who used to go on long, dangerous and arduous treks to collect fodder. After his retirement from the BSF in 1980, he took to developing his forest in all earnest. His pension was the seed money with which he planted around 56 species-from trees like the Manipuri oak and deodar to evergreen grasses like teliya and namcha, rare medicinal herbs like Salem panja (Dactylorhiza hatagirea), kuth (Saussurea lappa), sameva or tagar (Valeriana hardwickii), flowers like roses and lilies and climbers like the Barbati bean. "The unique feature of this forest is the presence of some species that grow only at very high altitudes," points out Vijay Jasula, a social worker.
The first glow of recognition for Chaudhary's work came almost 20 years later. In 1993, IAS officer R.S. Tolia surveyed the jungle and issued a circular that it should become the model for agro-forestry for the whole of the Uttaranchal area. Many awards and accolades have followed since. Among others, he has won the "Pariyavaran Premi" and "Him Gaurav" awards.
Green Bucks: Chaudhary's efforts have led to growing ecological awareness in the surrounding villages. People have begun cultivating cash crops and pulses, which has resulted in soil conservation and also enhanced family incomes. "Jungalee's jungle has inspired us to grow fruits and flowers on a small scale," says Mahender Singh, a young farmer. "I was able to collect six bottles of honey this year due to the flowers I planted." Chaudhary himself says the villagers now seem to have a sense of belonging with his forest. He remembers the time when a forest fire threatened his patch and it was only the brave assistance of the villagers that saved it.
Scholars, too, recognise the value of the man's work. Says Bhaskar Sinha, who is working on a doctoral thesis on Himalayan ecology at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University: "Many rehabilitation projects are being taken up by the government and NGOs involving research and enormous capital input. But Jungalee's creation is wholly an outcome of his commitment, dedication and hard work."
Chaudhary's eco-friendliness extends to a dislike for chemical fertilisers. He uses only natural manure and digs compost pits to store bio-mass. He also distributes saplings and medicinal herbs to the villagers free of cost. Vehemently opposed to mono-culture farming, he intends to harness the forest resources and check unemployment by effecting a change in the "money-order" economy of the region with alternatives like bee keeping and rabbit farming. He is also trying to grow bamboo and tea and to encourage the setting up of forests on community lands.
"The government should encourage people who have sacrificed their land to benefit the environment," says Jungalee. "I am growing oak knowing well that I cannot use it for commercial use since felling oaks is banned." He also campaigns for subsidies on cooking gas and electricity, without which people will continue to hack down trees for fuel. But these are minor plaints that the jungle man can afford to forget when he sits down for dinner: chapatis, dal, vegetables, pickles and for desert, honey-all from his unique plot.
ends
A pensioner converts wasteland into a forest with over 50 species
By Teresa Rehman
Jungalee, protector of the forest". It may sound like a character out of a Tolkien book, but this Jungalee is for real. Ex-serviceman Jagat Singh Chaudhary from the tiny village of Kot Malla, 4,500 ft up in the hills of Rudra Prayag, was bestowed this title at an environmental seminar in the Government Inter College at Jasauli in 1993 for having converted 1.5 hectares of wasteland into a jungle. His wife had her reservations about the epithet; people, she feared, would laugh at her husband. Nothing like that happened, for Jungalee is a famous man now and is often invited to deliver lectures at schools and colleges. He wears his unusual title with pride: "Jungalee does not mean uncivilised but being one with nature."
It all started in 1974 when Chaudhary, during his vacations, worked on his barren patch of land to grow plants for fodder and fuel. This solved the problem of the household women who used to go on long, dangerous and arduous treks to collect fodder. After his retirement from the BSF in 1980, he took to developing his forest in all earnest. His pension was the seed money with which he planted around 56 species-from trees like the Manipuri oak and deodar to evergreen grasses like teliya and namcha, rare medicinal herbs like Salem panja (Dactylorhiza hatagirea), kuth (Saussurea lappa), sameva or tagar (Valeriana hardwickii), flowers like roses and lilies and climbers like the Barbati bean. "The unique feature of this forest is the presence of some species that grow only at very high altitudes," points out Vijay Jasula, a social worker.
The first glow of recognition for Chaudhary's work came almost 20 years later. In 1993, IAS officer R.S. Tolia surveyed the jungle and issued a circular that it should become the model for agro-forestry for the whole of the Uttaranchal area. Many awards and accolades have followed since. Among others, he has won the "Pariyavaran Premi" and "Him Gaurav" awards.
Green Bucks: Chaudhary's efforts have led to growing ecological awareness in the surrounding villages. People have begun cultivating cash crops and pulses, which has resulted in soil conservation and also enhanced family incomes. "Jungalee's jungle has inspired us to grow fruits and flowers on a small scale," says Mahender Singh, a young farmer. "I was able to collect six bottles of honey this year due to the flowers I planted." Chaudhary himself says the villagers now seem to have a sense of belonging with his forest. He remembers the time when a forest fire threatened his patch and it was only the brave assistance of the villagers that saved it.
Scholars, too, recognise the value of the man's work. Says Bhaskar Sinha, who is working on a doctoral thesis on Himalayan ecology at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University: "Many rehabilitation projects are being taken up by the government and NGOs involving research and enormous capital input. But Jungalee's creation is wholly an outcome of his commitment, dedication and hard work."
Chaudhary's eco-friendliness extends to a dislike for chemical fertilisers. He uses only natural manure and digs compost pits to store bio-mass. He also distributes saplings and medicinal herbs to the villagers free of cost. Vehemently opposed to mono-culture farming, he intends to harness the forest resources and check unemployment by effecting a change in the "money-order" economy of the region with alternatives like bee keeping and rabbit farming. He is also trying to grow bamboo and tea and to encourage the setting up of forests on community lands.
"The government should encourage people who have sacrificed their land to benefit the environment," says Jungalee. "I am growing oak knowing well that I cannot use it for commercial use since felling oaks is banned." He also campaigns for subsidies on cooking gas and electricity, without which people will continue to hack down trees for fuel. But these are minor plaints that the jungle man can afford to forget when he sits down for dinner: chapatis, dal, vegetables, pickles and for desert, honey-all from his unique plot.
ends
Sunday, March 20, 2011
">TV transforms Assam's election experience
Today, television has brought elections closer home. And common people are giving vent to their pent-up feelings and frustrations on the various shows on television. Candidates are no longer mere smiling photographs on banners and posters. They are live characters on TV, says TERESA REHMAN
Posted Saturday, Mar 19 12:31:15, 2011
A news capsule on the satellite channel DY365 goes like this. They show a woman in her domestic setting. There is music in the backdrop. The anchor asks, “Do you know this lady? She was an ordinary lady looking after her house. She even objected to her husband leaving his job as a civil servant and joining politics. But today, she is herself in the electoral fray.” More music.
Then the anchor answers, “She is none other than Monika Bora, tainted Congress leader Ripun Bora’s wife.” Then they go into the history of Ripun Bora, the civil servant turned politician who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for trying to bribe an official in connection with a murder case of Daniel Topno, a tea tribe leader. He was suspended from the party but the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) revoked his suspension just one and a half month before the polls.
The anchor then questions, “Will this lady vacate her seat in case her husband would want to contest? Would she have been happier if her husband got the ticket instead of her? The camera pans on the woman who seems perturbed by the questions. She murmurs, “Well, of course. I would be happier if my husband got a clean chit and got a ticket himself.” The anchor then states, “Well, this homemaker has been going to her in-laws house for a long time. But this time, she will go as a candidate to her constituency.”
This is just one instance of tangy television reporting as the state goes to the polls next month. With the Election Commission announcing a two-phase Assembly election for Assam, on April 4 and April 11 respectively, mundane election reporting has become a dramatic and sprightly affair with frenzied political activities taking place in full media glare. The satellite channels aired from Guwahati are in a tizzy, trying to get those little nuggets of information that would keep the readers glued to their television sets.
The channels have come up with interesting taglines -- “Not inside a studio but we are there in every constituency”, “From the voter’s home to a candidate’s mind”. From multihued profiles of candidates and their constituencies to heated debates on who would form the next government, to disgruntled candidates airing their grievances and even sting operations on the misdeeds of politicians – it’s a stimulating medley that is being televised. Political analysts and veteran journalists engage in heated poll-related debates.
The nascent television boom in the state has made elections an exhilarating experience. There was a time when denizens of remote villages sent one or two representatives to the district headquarter to find out who had been given a ticket to contest elections in their constituency. They used to eagerly wait in the village square to get the news and then have raucous discussions. But today, television is giving them a minute by minute account of the entire process – right from the screening process to the final ticket allotment.
Today, television has brought elections closer home. And common people are giving vent to their pent-up feelings and frustrations on the various shows on television. These voices of the masses had always been eclipsed in the whole election hungama. One such angry villager rues in front of the television screen, “Since independence, we did not get a single MLA who loved his constituency. But we have had enough of this. Now, we have seen on television how money for the different development schemes have been usurped by the politicians. We want a change now.”
The candidates too have been able to cut across geographical barriers with the people in their constituency. They are no longer mere ‘smiling photographs’ on banners and posters. They are live characters on TV, actively voicing their opinions and engaging in mud-slinging their opponents on the small screen.
Another phenomenon which has gained popularity is ‘Tandav Pratibadh’ or violent live protests. these are the most striking scenes on television today. Live telecast of ransacking of party offices and ripping apart party banners in various parts of Assam by peeved party workers seems to have a ripple effect and being replicated in various parts of the state. Of course, the television camera has a ubiquitous presence whenever there are such protests.
It was interesting to note how these channels covered how Trinamool Congress roped in disgruntled ticket seekers from major political parties like the Congress and the AGP. They showed how just few days ago, the party office was vacated by the landlord due to non-payment of rent. But now this party was the refuge of veteran big-time politicians who were denied tickets by their respective parties.
Moreover, one person who manages raise the TRP of the channels is farmer rights activist Akhil Gogoi of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, who has launched a crusade against the incumbent Congress government. He has been holding regular press meets against the Tarun Gogoi government. In his latest press meet, he appealed to the voters out the corrupt Congress government. He made 50 ‘maha’ or major allegations of corruption against the government, the inputs for which they have acquired by using the Right to Information Act.
All the news channel seems to have its own agenda. With the channel Newslive adopting a distinct pro-Congress stand, the channel DY365 is playing the role of a constructive opposition. NETV, on the other hand is taking a moderate stand. And now even petty workers of political parties know which channel to contact when they have to air their news. And till the elections get over, viewers in remote parts of the state will wait with baited breath for any kind of ‘breaking news’.
ends
Today, television has brought elections closer home. And common people are giving vent to their pent-up feelings and frustrations on the various shows on television. Candidates are no longer mere smiling photographs on banners and posters. They are live characters on TV, says TERESA REHMAN
Posted Saturday, Mar 19 12:31:15, 2011
A news capsule on the satellite channel DY365 goes like this. They show a woman in her domestic setting. There is music in the backdrop. The anchor asks, “Do you know this lady? She was an ordinary lady looking after her house. She even objected to her husband leaving his job as a civil servant and joining politics. But today, she is herself in the electoral fray.” More music.
Then the anchor answers, “She is none other than Monika Bora, tainted Congress leader Ripun Bora’s wife.” Then they go into the history of Ripun Bora, the civil servant turned politician who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for trying to bribe an official in connection with a murder case of Daniel Topno, a tea tribe leader. He was suspended from the party but the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) revoked his suspension just one and a half month before the polls.
The anchor then questions, “Will this lady vacate her seat in case her husband would want to contest? Would she have been happier if her husband got the ticket instead of her? The camera pans on the woman who seems perturbed by the questions. She murmurs, “Well, of course. I would be happier if my husband got a clean chit and got a ticket himself.” The anchor then states, “Well, this homemaker has been going to her in-laws house for a long time. But this time, she will go as a candidate to her constituency.”
This is just one instance of tangy television reporting as the state goes to the polls next month. With the Election Commission announcing a two-phase Assembly election for Assam, on April 4 and April 11 respectively, mundane election reporting has become a dramatic and sprightly affair with frenzied political activities taking place in full media glare. The satellite channels aired from Guwahati are in a tizzy, trying to get those little nuggets of information that would keep the readers glued to their television sets.
The channels have come up with interesting taglines -- “Not inside a studio but we are there in every constituency”, “From the voter’s home to a candidate’s mind”. From multihued profiles of candidates and their constituencies to heated debates on who would form the next government, to disgruntled candidates airing their grievances and even sting operations on the misdeeds of politicians – it’s a stimulating medley that is being televised. Political analysts and veteran journalists engage in heated poll-related debates.
The nascent television boom in the state has made elections an exhilarating experience. There was a time when denizens of remote villages sent one or two representatives to the district headquarter to find out who had been given a ticket to contest elections in their constituency. They used to eagerly wait in the village square to get the news and then have raucous discussions. But today, television is giving them a minute by minute account of the entire process – right from the screening process to the final ticket allotment.
Today, television has brought elections closer home. And common people are giving vent to their pent-up feelings and frustrations on the various shows on television. These voices of the masses had always been eclipsed in the whole election hungama. One such angry villager rues in front of the television screen, “Since independence, we did not get a single MLA who loved his constituency. But we have had enough of this. Now, we have seen on television how money for the different development schemes have been usurped by the politicians. We want a change now.”
The candidates too have been able to cut across geographical barriers with the people in their constituency. They are no longer mere ‘smiling photographs’ on banners and posters. They are live characters on TV, actively voicing their opinions and engaging in mud-slinging their opponents on the small screen.
Another phenomenon which has gained popularity is ‘Tandav Pratibadh’ or violent live protests. these are the most striking scenes on television today. Live telecast of ransacking of party offices and ripping apart party banners in various parts of Assam by peeved party workers seems to have a ripple effect and being replicated in various parts of the state. Of course, the television camera has a ubiquitous presence whenever there are such protests.
It was interesting to note how these channels covered how Trinamool Congress roped in disgruntled ticket seekers from major political parties like the Congress and the AGP. They showed how just few days ago, the party office was vacated by the landlord due to non-payment of rent. But now this party was the refuge of veteran big-time politicians who were denied tickets by their respective parties.
Moreover, one person who manages raise the TRP of the channels is farmer rights activist Akhil Gogoi of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, who has launched a crusade against the incumbent Congress government. He has been holding regular press meets against the Tarun Gogoi government. In his latest press meet, he appealed to the voters out the corrupt Congress government. He made 50 ‘maha’ or major allegations of corruption against the government, the inputs for which they have acquired by using the Right to Information Act.
All the news channel seems to have its own agenda. With the channel Newslive adopting a distinct pro-Congress stand, the channel DY365 is playing the role of a constructive opposition. NETV, on the other hand is taking a moderate stand. And now even petty workers of political parties know which channel to contact when they have to air their news. And till the elections get over, viewers in remote parts of the state will wait with baited breath for any kind of ‘breaking news’.
ends
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