THE BENCHMARK SET BY KYF

PC: DS TERON     (themileage.org)

Bijoy Ghimire

Mostly reported for its conflicts and stressful atmosphere, people across Northeast and outside have developed the notion that Karbi Anglong is a risky and volatile terrain to visit and explore. Highlighting only violent acts and thereby becoming completely oblivious to the wonderful things that happen in this fascinating tribal land, media has done immeasurable disservice to this district and its people. Almost certifying it to be a conflict zone, media and the administration have in fact facilitated the local administration to become more lethargic which has developed the habit of being not accountable and answerable to its people over and over again.

But to know Karbi Anglong and its true essence one need to visit Karbi Youth Festival atleast once. This 5 days’ event of such huge scale is organised in such a wonderful coordination and precision. 

KYF witnesses around 1 lac visitors every single day but to maintain such a huge crowd you will hardly find a single police man, or any paramilitary force. It is all managed by its volunteers with absolute care and decency. You will not find any unruly behaviours from any quarter of the event area where four programs at four different venues are being performed simultaneously with equal enthusiasm and funfair and surprisingly with equal number of audience.

I have nowhere seen such a decent crowd who cheer up even to the newcomers on the stage and help the budding artists get easy on the stage when they perform. KYF has produced from its shows several artists who are doing well today professionally. It is considered to be the oldest youth festival in Northeast which has inspired several other festivals which are being organised in different parts of Northeast today.

There is no denying the fact that KYF has been solely taking the responsibility of protecting, sustaining and uplifting the rich Karbi culture in the truest sense. The addition of the magnificent showcase of ethnic village in KYF, 2017 where the cultural heritage of other tribes of Assam was beautifully replicated is also a testament of the accommodating attitude of this pristine tribe who are considered to be the first migrants of Assam.

KYF since its inception in the early 1970s has set a benchmark to be followed by other communities who think that their very identity is at stake and that the best way to protect it is not to take to arms but to delve deep into its culture and manifest it in its most beautiful form. Now one might ask that Karbis too adopted violent means to assert their identity and unfulfilled aspirations but one should clearly understand that all these so called insurgent outfits at several periods of time were politically motivated. These violent acts are minimised or aggravated as per the political necessities of the opportunists who are at the helm of affairs.

Thus, one should not miss the outstanding traits of the great tribe that is the KARBIS, and how KYF(Karbi Youth Festival)all these years have been facilitating its people to manifest their love to its culture in every possible way. 

                  Awakening the youths

                                                  A pristine attempt to consolidate the cultural roots

                                                              

Bijoy Ghimire

All round development in any nation is ensured only when the nation can deliver the basic facilities and requirements to its citizens. There has to be an environment where there will be complete freedom to materialize one’s dream in every possible way. Such kind of positive environment indeed has ushered in with the Prime Ministership of Narendra Modi. Mr. Modi succeeded in striking a chord with the imagination of the youths. And he very well understands the capability of this section of the population of the country. A stable government with a dynamic and visionary leader at the helm of affairs could actually effect radical changes in a nation’s future course of actions.

Now, it is the responsibility of the youths as well to tap the prevailing atmosphere created by the leadership of a stable government and propel their energies towards something productive.

But there are always some sections in the society in the form of political parties, pressure groups, etc, who have some hidden agenda to disorient and mislead vibrant youths of the nation. To prove this point, it would be apt to illustrate how political upheavals and difference of opinions in the district of Karbi Anglong, Assam, have left no stone unturned in confusing the youths.

Amidst such atmosphere where vested interests are always at work, some non government organizations are selflessly and relentlessly taking initiatives to bind people together belonging to different communities.

Beacon (empowering the rural folk), a local NGO from the Hamren Sub Division of Karbi Anglong, Assam, recently organized EVOCO, 2014 at Hawaipur Baptist English High School. The daylong program witnessed a spectacular showcase of folk dance performances by students belonging to around 16 schools of Hamren Sub Division. Folk dance forms of Karbi, Dimasa, Nepali, Assamese, Bengali and Bhojpuri communities enthralled the audiences present on this rarest event which took place in a district which is mostly popular for bandhs, violence and unceasing clashes amongst different political parties and communities.

EVOCO, 2014 also facilitated a Free Health Check Up for the students and their parents besides organizing an essay competition. Health Check Up which was sponsored by GNRC, Guwahati also presented an hour long discourse on health and hygiene by its medical director Dr. J P Sarma.

Beacon, this way brought smile on the faces of many who can hardly imagine of getting treated by the best doctors from one of the best hospitals of Assam.

Formally inaugurating the program, Mr. Dharamsing Teron a political activist and an acclaimed author appreciated the unique and positive initiative undertaken by the organizers and suggested to make EVOCO bigger event every subsequent year. This, he said would draw the attention of the policy makers towards this region and thereby could take some initiatives to ameliorate the woos of the region which is considered as one of the most backward areas of Assam.

Initiatives of this kind where youths are involved can only dismantle the nefarious intentions harboured by the so-called leaders of such a backward district. An attempt to bind people together through culture can only resolve long standing differences amongst different groups in this ‘special’ district which is infested with insurgency for decades. And it is ‘special’ because this district has been facilitating ample opportunities and avenues to the administrators to loot. 

Appeasing the Opportunist

Bijoy Ghimire

Since the Britishers left India and bestowed the administering powers to the Indians, the very governing process is declining may be due to inept and insincere people who have taken hold of the reins to govern the nation. India is a big nation which houses people belonging to different castes and communities.

The living style and a set of belief systems practiced and professed by a definite group of people in a definite area may be completely different with the different group of people residing in a different area within the nation. Such stark differences amongst the Indians as regard to their basic belief systems and the social values that they carry have paved the way for the development of feelings of isolation from each other. One specific community or a tribe cannot identify themselves with the other which sows the seeds of mistrust and alienation.

Amidst such social differences the country is being governed centrally with limited power being transferred to the states where tribes and communities with their distinct identities live. And those who are assigned with the job of governing such a huge population of diverse ethnicity might not comprehend the aims and aspirations of different group of people for the obvious reason that those who are at the different stages of administration does not adequately represent the people from all the regions of the country. The administrators therefore, might identify themselves with that section of the society with whom they can relate and thereby initiate works or programmes to further their interests and priorities.

This inadequate representation in all the governmental bodies basically is the root cause for the emergence of insurgency problem. The insurgents believe that the governors cannot understand their issues not only from the economic point of view but also socially. If we take the example of northeastern states of Indian union, the insurgent groups immediately tried in every possible way to assert their aspirations to their governors. However, their protests against the flawed governing system as they generally label it, has hardly bore any desired result, rather most often their voices reached the deaf ears of the administrators who hardly give any weightage to the real and genuine issues of several tribes and communities which inhabit the country.

After India’s independence some regions of the country seen rapid industrial and basic infrastructural development whereas some region remained backward both economically and socially. Due to this imbalance in the overall development process, it was and is quite imminent that that section of the population of a definite area would revolt and object the very rule of the established authority. The constitution of India guarantees every right to this section of the society to raise voice against the governing authority to mend their ways of governance so as to avert biased developmental trend.

If we limit our observation to the NE region, then it becomes quite pertinent the misgovernance and enormous discrepancies in the administrative machineries which lack proper monitoring even to see the utilization of whatever funds which the central government releases for the development of the region.

A sidelined region with unbridled corruption festering in almost all the governmental departments has triggered the emergence of several insurgent outfits in all the states in general and Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya in particular. In this fight against the established authority, innumerable lives and property have been lost. However, after years of revolution for sovereignty and some for more autonomy, some major insurgent outfits like NSCN(IM) and ULFA(PRO) are in parley with the government. However, the irony of the fact is that, all those outfits which are in talk with the government of Indian have clearly manifested their lack of integrity and unity of command.

Outfits like NSCN, ULFA, DHD, NDFB, and KLNLF have split into two factions, one which is in talk with the government and the other which vehemently opposes any kind of compromise with the aims and objectives of their organization. Now even if the government convinces one faction of the outfit and signs agreement with it, the stalemate with other faction would continue signaling the never ending phenomenon of dealing with the insurgent outfits of NE region which quite unfortunately also have become a booming industry thriving mostly due to unemployed youths who get lured easily for money. Thus, the insurgency in NE region has lost its essence and credibility which has given the government the opportunity to appease the opportunists within the outfit and thereby dismaying those who still are sticking to the prime agenda of their outfit resulting further in the deterioration of law and order situation of the society.

Walking on the razor's edge

Peeling the thick layers of negativities every single day is bringing me closer to the core of my entity where I always sought to be. Every day is a revelation. Making conditions favorable within me which is helping in flushing out the powerful and all pervading fear and presumably incessant temptations and longing to the transient worldly matter, I am discovering the level of my ignorance.
All these years I had stock piled the dirt, which now was about to rot. A rotten, stinking flesh I almost had become due to the fear triggered filth and nasty thoughts. It had taken hold of my being. The pristine essence of my being was lost somewhere. That childlike innocence which made me happy and jovial even for some trivial matter had become non-existent. I was revolving around myself searching the very source of my existence where I always wanted to live. Though it seemed nearer, but difficult was it to grasp and own. The agony that I had to undergo to have a glimpse of that sublime state even though at a distant horizon is inexpressible.
Unceasing contemplation with a sincere and honest forbearing to reach home had rather singed me and I was drowning into the quagmire of hopelessness. May be it was a litmus test for me to come out of the complexities of life and become triumphant. I am treading forward with utmost caution as I am quite sure that the journey ahead is like walking on a razor’s edge which can give you wounds without warning.
Bijoy Ghimire
bijoy.ghimire@gmail.com

Inculcating work culture

Bijoy Ghimire

This veil of ignorance or what we call the reservoir of emotions and feelings has enveloped entirely the common and ordinary people like us because of which attachment to all the worldly objects and to our near and dear ones has become quite insurmountable. This string of longingness has forbidden us from reaching our source of true belongingness to ourselves. Is this diversion a positive and constructive one? In other words will it help us in any way towards our self aggrandisement? By self aggrandisement I mean upliftment which gradually paves the way for moral integrity.

There are several organisations who promise peace and happy life if we follow a certain pattern which is being designed by them. The pattern or set of Asanas or the breathing exercises are to be followed consistently until and unless it becomes a routine of our day to day life. Does these methods applicable to all the age groups? There are some who are hardly benefitted by such methods although they try sincerely towards surmounting the diversion in them which I believe is developed due to the prevailing social conditions and atmosphere of our society in which we are born and brought up.

The more I read and listen to the Godmen that the Indian soil has produced since time immemorial, the more I find discrepancies in their thoughts and ideas and the very content of their lecture seems quite far away from what I am at present even though I believe that I am inclined towards knowing and realising what they speak and profess.

Wanting and imagining to be in the spiritual plane and irresistible attachment to the worldly objects often leave us in a state of hopelessness and despair. Who is responsible for this state of ours? Sometimes I consider those people who are quite unaware of what self knowing is all about are the most fortunate. Fulfilment of the basic requirements of their bodily needs is all they are concerned with. They hardly care about all those utopian dimensions of this existence of which the different schools of thought talk about. The saying ‘ Ignorance is bliss’ aptly fits in for such folk of our society.

How many of the people of our society realised their souls listening to the God sellers flourishing in the market place today? Definitely there is a sizeable numbers who got benefitted in terms of their health. Some might have mitigated their stress level due to the pattern that they are instructed to follow. But this cannot be generalised. Some might be disillusioned and may go astray as well. Any organisation whatsoever lofty and sublime it’s ideologies and objectives might be, it just should not guarantee or promise to bring revolution or claim to substitute the world which is submerged in the bog of anxiety and hopelessness with a world of peace and harmony just by prescribing a definite pattern of living style.

Is the world itself in which we have to struggle for our survival not enough to understand the complexities and the basic tenets of living this life. No one will offer food and shelter for free. During the process of managing these two basic things the world around us teaches certain patent fact and helps us in every possible way to come out from our comfort zone of living life and face the challenges which are being posed before us by the world. This I believe is the authentic way to make ourselves bold and live life with dignity. Because, it is rightly said that the work or duty that we are assigned and by doing which we are sustaining our life is God.

Thus, the proper accomplishment of our day today work with no attachment to it whatsoever will finally land us to the sublime state if there is any instead of imagining and speculating about what it would be like. And the diversion from it would definitely result into different kinds of ailments. But today’s society is gripped into this diversion. Maximum lot of the youngsters today are disillusioned.

This diversion and disillusionment to a great extent can be deterred if we inculcate work culture irrespective of its division both by the rich and poor of our society. Mushrooming of hospitals and the God sellers is due to non-working rich of our society. Non-activity gradually cripples our enthusiasm and vigour and thereby negative forces creeps into our minds and take hold of our being and this is how anti-social elements are produced, distorting the basic fabric of our society.

New platform for the emerging NE filmmakers

Bijoy Ghimire

Filmmaking always have been a fascinating art with the development of the audio-visual media. Poets, Painters and the writers can give vent to their thoughts and ideas and can reach a wider audience. The culture of making films in NE region started since 1930s when a revolutionary visionary Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala who was also a distinguished poet, playwright, composer and freedom fighter produced for the first time Assamese film ‘Joymoti’ under the banner of Chitrakala Movietone.

Though Assamese cinema has its long history and credited for its artistic successes, it could not manage to make the breakthrough on the national stage despite its film industry making a mark in the National Awards over the years. Although the beginning of 21st century has seen Bollywood-style Assamese movies hitting the screen, the industry has not been able to compete in the market, significantly overshadowed by the larger industries such as Bollywood. Whereas in Manipur, it was only in the year 1972, first Manipuri feature film ‘Matamgi Manipur’ produced by Karam Manomohan Singh was released for premier. The filmmakers in Manipur has to work against heavy odds. Want of proper technical facilities, small budget and small market were and still are the main hurdles for the upcoming filmmakers. Inspite of this, directors like Aribam Shyam Sharma and writers like M.K. Binodini Devi could leave indelible mark in the Manipuri films.

In the recent times, new trend of making short films has drawn the attention of good actors across the globe. One has to tell his story and depict what he actually wants to convey within a very short span of time. The first Guwahati International Short Film Festival organised shortly in Guwahati by Creovaent productions in association with Shamiana, a short film club of Mumbai facilitated the budding filmmakers from the NE region to showcase their films infront of renowned film makers and actors. Besides, special screening of North East short films, Creovaent productions screened critically acclaimed and popular national and international short films like PORQUE HAY COSAS QUE NUNCA SE OLVIDAN ( Because there are some things we never forget), Kerela Cafe, Blood Brother etc.

The festival indeed has kindled the young talented film makers to make issue based and quality films. The organisers said that the festival would be organised every year and in the coming years one can make films through their mobile phones and can send the same to the organisers for screening if the organisers find it worthy. The festival was graced by eminent film makers like Shyamaprasad, Nila Madhab Panda, Hoobam Paban Kumar and acclaimed theatre and film actor Adil Hussain as the jury members for the competitive section at the festival. ‘A new trend has ushered in the society where we can capture small things in our day today lives and present it creatively with a message to a larger audience which I think is highly enriching both to the filmmaker and the audience’, said the seasoned actor Adil Hussain who has made inroads to both Bollywood and Hollywood by dint of his outstanding acting skills. ‘The growing trend of short filmmaking has provided an opportunity to the aspiring young filmmakers to present their ideas and thoughts with liberty and in a minimal cost. The first Guwahati International Short film festival would definitely inspire and attract the young filmmakers of this region towards this wonderful art’, said Shyamaprasad who is credited with award winning Malayalam box office hits like Agnisakshi, Ore Kadal and Elektra.

Amongst different films from NE showcased in the festival, ‘19/87’ from Meghalaya won the best picture. Directed by Wanphrang K Diengdoh and Dondor E Lyngdoh, the ‘19/87’ beautifully depicts how a Muslim tailor from Uttar Pradesh and a Khasi youth become good friends though there was a strong upsurge amongst the Khasis in driving out people from other states in Shillong. In another section, Late Angshuman Barkakoty and Amit Lamzel Sarki won for the best direction and editing respectively for the film ‘Windows 4:3’. Angshuman tries to depict various aspects of life by taking different kinds of windows as a metaphor. Whereas best screenplay and best cinematography was swept by 19/87. Late Angshuman Barkakoty’s Doctor, Nurse and Patient was also screened as a special tribute to the outstanding young filmmaker from Assam.

In short, First Guwahati International Short Film Festival has undoubtedly started a new chapter in promoting and popularising the art of making films in its unique way particularly in Assam and in other NE states in general. It would be apt to quote famous filmmaker James Cameron here. He says ‘Pick a camera, shoot something. No matter how small, no matter how cheesy, no matter whether your friends and your sister star in it. Put your name on it as director. Now you are director. Everything after that you are just negotiating your budget and your fee’.

Banging the Conscience

Bijoy Ghimire

The controversy surrounding the drafting and the very enactment of Jan Lok Pal Bill has certainly weakened Hazare’s crusade against corruption. Anna proposes alleged tainted Bhushans on the panel which has aroused doubts on the impartiality and integrity of the panel. Time would say how far the implementation of this bill can help in checking unbridled corruption which has infested every governmental department.
As per the civil society version of the Jan Lokpal bill, the Lokpal will have jurisdiction over politicians, bureaucrats and judges. The CVC and the entire vigilance machinery of the centre will be merged into the Lokpal. The Lokpal can not only initiate action on its own but it can also entertain complaints directly from the public. It will not refer for permission from any authority. After completing its investigation against public servants, the Lokpal can initiate prosecution, order disciplinary proceedings or both. With the corruption branch of the CBI merged into it, the Lokpal will be able to register FIRs, conduct investigations under the Criminal Procedure Code and Launch prosecution.
But will the successful enaction of Lokpal Bill wipe out corruption from different branches of administrative machinery? Certainly it will not though it can act as deterrent to some extent. Then where lies the problem? It is very much true that the people at large are disgusted by corruption. We are sick of reading about the telecom scandal, the Radia tapes, the Commonwealth games. More than that corruption has become like a virus that has plagued our everyday lives and we are appalled by it. But we are too lazy to go out and vote and actually participate in our democracy.
We're apathetic, and believe, perhaps correctly, that our feeble middle-class vote won't make a difference. And yet, we want to express our disgust at the way things are, take the moral high ground, and feel like we really are doing something, because that helps our self esteem. Then along comes this venerable activist who wears khadi, speaks out against corruption in high places, and goes on a hunger strike to influence the implementation of a bill that aims to tackle corruption. Naturally, we make him the repository of our hopes and our values, speak out in his defence at social gatherings and while hanging out with friends, and even light candles in his support. And there, our job as citizens is done.
Before taking active participation in the democratic process, it is necessary to introspect into one’s self and see whether there are some loopholes in your moral integrity before hammering into others’ activities. May be the people resorting to corruption and other malpractices in the governmental departments need proper guidance and some lesson on moral integrity. They have to be educated that money is not everything in life and there are several other factors as well which play important role to make you happy. There is a line which says Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is us who have allowed our representatives to become so powerful inspite of the fact that the real power resides in us as the citizens of a democratic country. Thus we are responsible for such a sorry state of affairs. The representatives so cleverly quip that it is the people who have trust on them for which they are heading the governmental machineries.
Inspite of risking acidity(fast) and unnecessarily making hue and cry why don’t we disseminate education even though in a small way in our locality and let the upcoming generation know what actually is right and wrong and elect a person who can deliver his activities with no any vested interest. It is highly a responsible job which requires tremendous self effort and moral integrity within ourselves. It becomes utmost necessary for ourselves to know range of things to arrive at a conclusion which we ourselves can follow and make others follow as well with complete synchronisation with the social and political upliftment of the society.