Alu muri man is the person whom the students seek to find after end of their schools. There are over 3000 alu muri men roaming around Shillong everyday. Regardless of hygiene, it is unquestionably mouth watering mixed boiled potatoes a treat to watch.
Pomu Das a second Generation Shillong Bengali is the irrespresible producer of the second film to be made in Khasi - Ka mon Bajwat. What sets the film apart is it's exuberent appropriation of Bollywood, something Pomu Das does with elan giving our city a taste of itself in mainstream flavours. The film which was released in 1998 was an instant hit in a city often seen to be at logger heads with the idea of India.
Considering the geo-physical isolation as well as socio-economic condition of this region it is necessary to extend wider exposure of socio-cultural and economic activities including tourism product of the state.
Abiding Grace' is an informative film on the culture, landscape and history of the North East of India. It takes us through the seven states in the North East, namely Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. North East India has a predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons and mild winters. Along with the west coast of India, this region has some of the Indian subcontinent's last remaining rain forests. The cultural traditions are not confined to themes of divine love but also include a strong influence of mythology that people can easily identify with. The film travels to each state and visually narrates the traditions, dances and practices along with the distinct landscapes of each of the seven states.
"The Quest for the Brahmaputra" is a journey along the course of Brahmaputra, the largest river in India. Originating from Tibet as river Tsang-Po, Brahmaputra travels through the hills and plateaus of Tibet, entering the plains of Assam and finally merges with the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. Changing its name six times throughout its journey, the Brahmaputra is equivalent to Navarasa, the nine emotions; sometimes calm and silent, as if in a meditative mood, sometimes destructive like a monster. The film portrays the culture and livelihoods that have flourished along the river. Over half a million people are dependent on the river, which also has religious importance in their lives 'The Quest for the Brahmaputra' is a quest that ends with the silent answer from a fisherman, when asked about their dependence even though the river is so destructive.
The film traces the different cultures and lifestyles on the banks of 900 km long journey of the river Brahmaputra in India. The river starts its journey in the Tibetan Plateau as Tsang-Po, enters India flowing through the north-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and exists to Bangladesh flowing out into the Bay of Bengal as Padma. In India the river supports the living cultures and livelihoods of 30 million people of different ethnicity. The film presents a series of cultural practices that are dominated by the river. The film also explores several myths related to the river. The film uses the meandering river to explore the cultural, political and economic life of the people who live on the riverbanks.
The Film gives an insight into the lives of three Manipuri Jews living in a turbulent, neglected part of the country where their steadfast belief and strict practice of Orthodox Judaism offer them a glimpse of a better life.
Chinese Indians are located in different parts of India. Some of them lived in Shillong. During the Indo-China War many of them were put in prison, imported to different part of the country. There were few of them who returned to Shillong and lived there.
For Suren Boro and 650,000 people living in 126 villages of Bodoland in the southern side of the River Pagladia, the river is a living god called "Pagla Baba". Situated near Indo-Bhutan international border of Assam, the river runs from the west to the east contrary to the locations of the villages in the south. The majority population is ethnic Bodo. Round the year they remain engaged in pushing the river down south, for every use of water - drinking, household, irrigation. There is no other source such as a tube well, dug well, or water stream. Since the 1920s, they have constructed 13 bunds (embankments) with whatever materials at their disposal - boulders, stones, sand, trees, climbers, straw. Tarpaulin and plastic sheets are the latest inclusion in their armory. The entire arrangement is controlled, maintained and regulated by a registered society since 1954. During the work of repairing a bund, Suren gets the news that his wife has fallen sick. He returns home immediately and finds his wife in labour. In the hospital, she gives birth to a son. Meanwhile the villagers have nearly completed repairing the bund and are preparing to allow the water to flow. The next morning when the water reaches the channel near Suren's house, his wife performs ablution of the new born baby with the water of Pagla Baba. The Baba has blessed them with the child.
The roads in every nook and corner are packed with cars. Everyone is trying to rush to reach to their destinations, whether in work places, home or schools, etc. Vehicles in Shillong are increased everyday but the roads remain the same. Therefore, no one can avoid trafffic if you are passing through Shillong city.
Nagas’ Right to Self Determination is refused to recognize in order to remain the whole Naga territory under Indian dominion. Therefore, to decide Nagas destiny, the plebiscite was conducted on May 16, 1951, throughout the Naga territories and 99.9% Nagas voted in favor of Naga Sovereign Independence. Until today Nagas declaration of independence in1947 has not been recognized by UN, India, and Burma.
Return visit to Naga Community. The Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf Film Archive is housed at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where Fürer-Haimendorf was Professor.
The Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf Film Archive is housed at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where Fürer-Haimendorf was Professor.
A 24 hour strike is called by Assamese militants to protest against the opening of the first session of the newly elected Assembly. There is heavy security in the state capital Gauhati, and other parts of Assam after recent anti-assembly uprisings.
The Men Who Hunted Heads, Audio is not correctly synched. The Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf Film Archive is housed at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where Fürer-Haimendorf was Professor.
This film depicts the early lifestyles of the people of Mizoram. They live together as a clan. They do not seek individual profits but always concerns for the clan. In Bachelor Dormitory a discussion is held to decide the various need of the particular clan.
The film illustrates the changes the Lepcha of the Dzongu reserve, North Sikkim, have been through in the last 60 years. From the 1940s, the Lepcha of Tingvong village gradually abandoned hunting, gathering and the slash and burn cultivation of dry rice, and became settled agriculturalists. Entire mountains sides were converted to cardamom and terraced for the cultivation of irrigated paddy. The irrigated rice and the cardamom cash crop not only brought the Lepcha within Sikkim’s market economy but helped create a surplus which could among other things be invested in religion. In the 1940s, the Lepcha of Tingvong embraced Buddhism and all its complex rituals without however abandoning their strong shamanic traditions. Today, both forms of rituals amiably co-exist in the village.
