Ajay Das comes from a poor family in Patla village. The family of six was dependent solely on agriculture. Apart from paddy, they also cultivated vegetables and Assam lemon, earning around Rs.1500 a month, which was barely sufficient. What does Ajay do now? He is an entrepreneur, producing arecanut leaf plates. Initially shy and slow, over a period of time he gained confidence when he saw the money coming in and when he realized that he could independently handle such a complex activity. In the last financial year, he produced around 40,000 products, one of the highest. He has taken up this activity full time and has one of the best raw material supply chains and is earning more than Rs.3000 a month.

Dalimi Patgiri from Bhalaguri village, a mother of two, is married to a teacher in a private school in the village. She came forward to start a similar venture. She not only saw an opportunity to earn additional income but also to set an example for other women. She facilitated setting up the raw material banks through a SHG (Self-Help Group) and helped collect 50,000 pieces of raw material in her area. She led a team of seven women on training visit to Salem at a time when many women did not have the courage to go beyond the precincts of the village. Later when her group did not support her to establish the plates manufacturing unit, she decided to do it alone. She set up the unit with a loan from SBI in January 2007. In spite of many problems and criticism from villagers, she has continued to improve her performance.

These are inspiring stories of just two of the many villagers of North East India, whose lives have been completely transformed by the initiatives of Dhriiti – The Courage Within.

Dhriiti has set up micro enterprises for Arecanut Leaf Plate Manufacturing. Each arecanut leaf plate manufacturing unit provides direct employment to three persons and indirect employment to ten other persons. At the same time, it produced an eco-friendly alternative to dangerous plastics and polystyrene plates, using dried arecanut sheaths, otherwise wasted in these regions. Since these regions have a huge raw material supply, Dhriiti focuses on the four Bodoland districts of Baska, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and the adjoining districts of Barpeta, Nalbari and Bongaigaon to promote this project. Dhriiti operates from its office in Barpeta, Assam and hopes to generate a business of more than 100 crores for rural North East by 2015.

So far, Dhriiti has established 44 units. Not only have over 5 lakhs plates been sold till now but the process has generated income of around 2 lakh for rural people by selling arecanut sheaths which was earlier deemed a waste product. The units, established at the house of the entrepreneurs, offer convenience and ease of self-employment.

The Raw Material Left for Drying

Raw Material Entering Machine

Final Product coming out of the machine

The percentage of poor in Assam is the highest among the seven sister states of the North East. Around 36.09 percent of the State’s population continues to live below the poverty line. The incidence of unemployment, measured as a percentage of the labour force is increasing in Assam. The way out of the unemployment and insurgency scenario is to promote self employment. This is where the arecanut leaf plate industry comes in. Cheers to an organization that has tapped the opportunity in this sector, providing employment to not just the entrepreneurs but also to many others!

Those of us who live in urban environments can seldom understand the impact of an abstract concept like education. It is another matter that education itself may mean completely different things to different people. However, the ability to read, write, enjoy, and be inspired by ideas transmitted across time and space on a printed page is an abstraction whose power can only be understood by its absence, something that only distance can provide a proper perspective to.

But one must wonder at the drive that can inspire an individual to single-handedly promote reading habits in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Shri Sathyanarayan Mundayoor—Sathyanarayanji to adults and Uncle Moosa to the young—has spent 32 years in the North East part of India influencing the education and reading movements at various levels. In 1979, he quit a government job in the income tax department to find a way of life with more meaning than money. A chance advertisement led him to apply for a position with the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya school movement that was then starting to spread its roots in the north-east. He worked as the education officer for the VKV schools till 1996, where he influenced many young people with his ideas; testimonies are not hard to find for him, practically everyone in any VKV school remembers the impact he made on them. The VKV schools themselves are an outstanding monument to education, and currently 34 VKV schools in Arunachal Pradesh continue to illumine the lives of many young students who would otherwise not be able to even study.

Outside view of the Apne Library, Wakro

Meanwhile, fed up with the unimaginative teaching methods that haunt our school system, Uncle Moosa again decided to branch out from the confines of formal education. Several years of experimentation saw him dabble with things as diverse as a one year program in non-formal education to the cultivation of medicinal plants. He felt, however, the need to stimulate the reading habits of children and allow them to discover the power of imagination. The answer to this call took the form of book exhibitions; he would haul books in trunks to far flung villages using the abysmal state transport in an effort to promote reading among tribal children. He was planting seeds of a different kind. In 2007, in collaboration with the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC) and the Vivekananda Trust (of which he is a member), a gift of children’s’ books and magazines became the first library as part of the Lohit Youth Library Movement in the government town of Tezu. The library was named the Bamboosa Library after the bamboo plant. Today, 13 such libraries can be found in off-the-beaten-path places like Wakro, Chongkham, Anjaw, and Lathao.

Children inside the Apne Library, Wakro

Children reading inside the Apne Library, Wakro

The effort to widen this circle of reading and associate activities has seen workshops on story telling and reading by various experts. Recognition for the library movement also took the library activists to New Delhi for the International Conference on Children’s Libraries in 2009, where they performed skits, poetry recitations and dances in the presence of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and subsequently interacted with him. The impact of the library movement has attracted several eminent patrons including the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Shri. JJ Singh, ministers, and several IAS officers.

Bamboosa Library, Tezu

I had the privilege of visiting the Bamboosa Library at Tezu and the Apne Library at Wakro in September 2011 and interacting with the readers and other school children through a series of theatre workshops. It was astonishing to see the confidence with which these children spoke and performed. It was a marvelous example of what the power of reading can do to a child’s self-esteem. Over a period of 3-4 days each at Wakro and Tezu we developed and performed Dr. Seuss’s powerful poem, The Lorax. The children were at their expressive best as they informed the audience of the ills of deforestation.

Children inside Bamboosa Library, Tezu

From my understanding of the current situation in Arunachal, these are uncertain times for the people. Student politics, drug abuse among youth, tribal conflicts with governance, and the lack of a career path for women are preventing the progress of society. At such a critical time, the library movement is doing a wonderful service to the land by planting the seeds of reading and education in the minds of the youth. Further, the work of Uncle Moosa and those of his ilk are the very examples that we in India need as our society moves towards a selfish, consumerist way of life. Such people and organizations are the good news that society needs to hear about.

When I first heard of Mawlynnong’s claim of being “The Cleanest Village in Asia”, I knew I had to plan a trip to see it. The village is at a distance of around 90 km from Shillong, and the road leading up to it has some of the most panoramic and breathtaking views in the country.

Nestled in the pristine East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya the residents of this picturesque village along the Indo-Bangla border have learnt to live at harmony with Mother Nature and might very well become an example that urban folk should emulate.

Till over a decade ago this village was practically unknown to tourists until Discover India magazine accorded it the Cleanest Village status in 2005. As one walks around the narrow zig-zagging paths of the village one is astounded by the clean well maintained black tarmac and the spotless front-yards and sidewalks of the bamboo stilt houses. There are stylish bamboo dustbins everywhere and separate compost pits in various pockets of the village for organic and inorganic wastes. Polythene use is completely banned and so is smoking.

A Bamboo Stilt House in Mawlynnong

There are public toilets which the villagers themselves maintain and everyone takes part in the ritual weeding, sweeping and cleaning of the gardens and roads which happens every evening. Even the children are taught from an early age to keep their surroundings clean and they don’t hesitate to pick up the odd piece of garbage on the road and put it in the bin. The village is well supplied with an efficient localized water supply and sanitation system.

Everyone shoulders the responsibility of keeping the village clean

Just outside the village on the passing river is situated the amazing living roots bridge which speaks out for the ingenuity of the people. It is over 200 years old and was constructed by tying the roots of two banyan trees and maneuvering them to get entangled in such a way as to create a passage over the stream. The Sky-view tower on the eastern side of the village is a tall structure built on the support of a tree with bamboos and gives a wonderful view of the Bangladesh plains.

For the discerning traveler there are many unmapped trails that one can explore around the village full of little waterfalls and sacred forests abounding in flora and fauna. The guest houses in the village are basic tree houses built on top of stilts that almost jut out into the adjacent forest. Staying in them is an experience in itself.

Village women cleaning the area

There is a lot urban society could learn from Mawlynnong and its environmentally conscious citizens. The self sustaining models though rudimentary have very strong foundations and have more to do with behavior and customs that the peoples have adhered to and upheld. With the increasing influx of tourists the challenge for Mawlynnong is to maintain its culture and also educate outsiders with their ways. Do you think modern cities in India can replicate what the citizens of Mawlynnong have done? With better technology and infrastructural support Indian cities can certainly take Mawlynnong’s concepts forward and create self sustaining environment systems with minimal damage to the eco-systems. All we need are more responsible and conscientious citizens who will take up the cause of the environment.

Mawlynnong can be reached by road and it is roughly a three hour drive from Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong. The nearest airport is Guwahati, in Assam, which is around three hours from Shillong and is well connected with major metros.

Vivek Garg, a former army officer, who has served with the Indian army for 10 years in high conflict regions of India is today determined to use trade to bring about peace and stability in conflict areas. He has started an organization called BAPAR ( which stands for Business Alternatives for Peace, Action and Reconciliation) to stimulate entrepreneurship in Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland. Along with creating enterprises, BAPAR is equally focused on establishing market linkages so that people have a stable means to earn and find a path away from conflict.

“Since economies of these regions have remained neglected for decades, we realized that these market linkages have been severed and so mere seed capital is not enough to establish entrepreneurs.” says Vivek.

BAPAR's women entrepreneurs in Nagaland's remote village celebrated women laureates winning the Nobel Prize

The issue of Kashmir is well known, it is one of world’s most highly militarized area. The long, continuing conflict in Kashmir which dates back to India’s partition in 1947 has severely impaired the economy. Once booming with tourism and local trade (handicrafts, horticulture and agriculture) the locals now are left with no jobs. Thousands of highly educated, skilled youth have no means to earn income and are often roped into extremism. A similar situation prevails in the North East region of India, though the cause for the insurgency is different, the ongoing conflict has led to similar economic backwardness of the area.

Vivek Garg: ex-Army officer and Founder of BAPAR

As Vivek notes, “I found that mere prospects of earning livelihood and leading a respectable life was a mammoth challenge and it was reason for deep rooted hostility that no one was addressing.”

BAPAR has identified two focus areas to start with – Handicrafts and Agriculture as these two skills are widely prevalent in these regions. Their approach is to identify local skills which have business potential, create community enterprises around those skills, invest seed capital, link enterprises to market and monitor operations till these enterprises become self reliant.

They are currently working with 250 women artisans in Kashmir, Nagaland and Manipur. They have been able to link these groups to handicraft houses and increase income of participants by almost 150% (earning about INR 3000 – 4000 per month). On the agriculture front, BAPAR has started a community fruit processing unit in Kashmir. Kashmir is known for fruit production (Apple, pears and strawberries). However, almost 60 % of fruit never reaches the market due to lack of logistic resources. Also there is a serious lack of fruit processing support in the state. They intend to target these issues through the community fruit processing project – to solve the post harvest issue and to generate income for locals. In Manipur, BAPAR has just launched a community rubber plantation project – villages there have huge land and climate is great for rubber plantation.

BAPAR’s aim is to make use of locally available skills and resources to create enterprises and facilitate market linkages. Vivek started work on BAPAR while still in the army in 2009, he resigned in 2011 to work full time on the project. Though the road to peace and recovery is long and curvy but Vivek is optimistic and determined. He has already made great headways and plans to reach out to more communities and entrepreneurs in those regions.

You can support BAPAR’s work by purchasing their handicrafts from the online retail site, CraftsVilla. If you would like to learn more or would like to engage in a business partnership contact Vivek via email (vivekgarg@bapar.org) or connect with them on their Facebook Page.

Meena Vaidyanathan continues her exploration of India’s little-known rivers to enlighten and enchant our readers with the little secrets they hold. In the second post in this series (read the first one here), she gets lured by the lilting beauty of the Jia-Bharali in Assam, all along the Nameri National Park.

The promise of impending showers didn’t deter our motley crowd from picking up our backpacks and campstools from setting out to explore the part of the Kameng river that flows in Assam.

The Beautiful Jia Bharali River

The Kameng has its origins in the glaciers of Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, close to the Indo-Tibet border. It flows through Bhalukpong in Arunachal Pradesh and Sonitpur district of Assam, before joining the Brahmaputra at Tezpur, just east of the Kolia Bhomora bridge. The Kameng is a fascinating river with surprisingly consistent rapids, deep gorges, pristine camps and well kept old forests around it.

We decided to explore along the Jia-Bhorelli as the Kameng is called in Assam, and visit the Nameri National Park. The Nameri reserve is on the Tezpur-Bomdila highway, passing through the quaint town of Balipara. The “non-existent” road from Tezpur is treacherous to say the least, and people with bad backs won’t find the 40-odd km stretch of the road to the river around the reserve exactly pleasant. But the beautiful people enroute who are happy to serve fresh tea made with goat’s milk, the simplicity of the lifestyle of the local communities, the rich vegetation and the calling of the river that can be breathtakingly calm and fiery at the same time can be very addictive and help one overcome the pain of the drive. Funnily enough, we also found out from the locals that the river’s original name Bharali, was spelt Bhorelli by the Britishers and it has stuck since then.

Tea is readily served by locals along the way

We must have driven about 10 kms ahead of the Nameri reserve when we spotted a stretch of the river that seemed pure bliss. The water, crystal clear, almost a rarity in many parts of India, and cold enough to refresh the most tired soul, was just what we needed. Our group was made up of people ranging from age one through forty, and the cool waters managed to get everyone of us to clap in glee! The river served as a border to

the park, and we could see the thick forest with tall trees to the other side of the river. As we walked on the shore, a couple of people in a raft with some angling gear arrived floating down with the current, probably ending their fish hunt. It was heartening to note that the community around the area most famous for “Mahaseer” angling is amazingly passionate about breeding the dwindling golden mahaseer, even if the only aim is to have more of them to catch!! Mahaseer, known as the tiger of Indian rivers, is best spotted in the winter months, we learnt. The breeding programme is spearheaded by the Assam (Bhorelli) Angling and Conservation Association that also runs the eco-camp in the reserve. It was ironic that the angling association that is run in such close cooperation with the locals is still called Bhorelli!

Outside The Eco Camp

The river front was the perfect picnic spot and it was arduous to get ourselves out of that blissful state of being. But we were eager to learn more about the eco-camp located in the Potasali village nearby, which also happens to be the only place to stay anywhere close to Nameri National Park. It was a delightful place to be in, located in a quiet village at the border of the park, not too far from the river. We had lunch at the camp, which was a simple fare using local produce. The local community takes great pride in participating in the activities of the camp, and the acknowledgement of the role local communities play in keeping the ecosystem of the place alive was displayed for all to see.

With an area of 213 sq. km., Nameri is the third largest national Park of Assam. Nameri was set up as a sanctuary in 1985 and in 1998 it was officially established as a national park. By the time we finished our lunch and spent some time relaxing outside the tents taking in the sights and smells, a heavy downpour decided for us that it was time to leave and we had to choose another day to explore the reserve.

Relaxing at the tents in the camp

As we pulled out our jeeps from the eco-camp, the words in the display board at the camp’s restaurant that captured the essence of how beautifully one could live in harmony with nature and of the usually unsung local community in preserving the delicate ecosystem, was all that played in my head –

Lobjek, my dear friend, this is about you, the “bushman of the Bhorelli”. Your forte was not restricted to the river but went beyond. A vanishing handful of your tribe, you not just gave us joy and excitement but taught us so much about ourselves. In return, all you wanted was to sit around a log fire with a glass of lom (rum) and exchange stories of the day gone by! Your footprints on the sand may have gone with you, but not the impressions you have left in our hearts and souls. For as long as the breeze blows and creates a rustle in the trees and a ripple on the river, a Mahaseer leaps. You live. You are Nature.

As our hearts and prayers go out to the unfortunate people in Assam facing the brunt of turbulent times, we take a look at one of the state’s indigenous arts that is both beautiful and innovative. Meena Vaidyanathan visits Sualkuchi, a weavers’ village where silk is made differently and humanely, and discovers little-known facets of the Assamese way of life that leaves her with a new-found respect for the hardy and self-sufficient people.

What do you call silk that is made without boiling live silkworm pupae? Responsible silk? Non-violent (Ahimsa) silk? Whatever you want to name it – it is gorgeous and it is weaved in one small district of Assam called Sualkuchi. As I discover more of Assam, I get more intrigued and mesmerised. A state with 22 million population of which a large number of households have a loom where they weave their own cloth. But almost all of the silk weaving is done in Sualkuchi. When I set off one fine morning to spend a day with the weavers to understand their life a little better, I didn’t realise it would lead to this unending thirst to learn more.

Miri, an Assamese weaver from a nearby village, weaving magical patterns into the silk saree at a loom in Sualkuchi

Assam is the home of several types of silks, the most prominent being Muga, the gold-hued silk found exclusively in this state. Other silks include Pat and Eri or Endi, of which all silks except Pat is non-mulberry silk. The worms mainly feed on castor leaves and only the open ended cocoons are used for turning into silk.

The rectangular cardboard with digital punched holes that somehow give rise to the patterns

As I walked into a traditional loom, I saw a mid-aged woman deftly moving her feet and hands in a coordinated manner to weave a beautiful design into the sari. The designs, determined by a very digital-looking cardboard rectangle, looked so obscure that it was hard to believe that the simple punched holes would give rise to the most amazing patterns in silk. Miri, as the lady was called, told me that she, like most other weavers in the region, came from a place called Mangaldoi and lived in rented huts in Sualkuchi. She took about 6-8 days, depending on the complexity of the design, to weave one sari, and earned about Rs. 100 a day! I also learnt that nearly 60% of the women weavers who brought to life the silks made in Assam lived outside of the district.

The owner of the loom told me that the weavers get a 2-hour break during the day where they feed their families lunch and also get time for a nap. I didn’t quite trust him, but most of the women I spoke to seemed to echo his lines, which made me believe that the lives of these weavers was perhaps a shade better than many contracted weavers in other parts of India. Perhaps the reason has been that the much of the weaving is done through a network of co-operatives.

A view of the loom, one of several hundred in Sualkuchi

To a large number of the weavers, not just in Sualkuchi but all over Assam, this cottage industry had been a way of life rather than mere source of living. Which perhaps explains the fact that weaving in Assam isn’t restricted to certain communities or tribes alone but spread across caste and class lines. I heard a wonderful story where Momai Tamuli Barbarua, a minister of king Pratap Singha, made it compulsory for every adult able bodied female in Assam to spin a certain quantity of yarn every evening! I was also told that in a marriage proposal, proficiency of the would-be bride in Bowa-kata,i.e.,skill in spinning and weaving is ranked way above her skills in cooking! It is still customary among the Assamese, that on the occasion of Bihu, a grown-up girl makes presents of self-woven Bihuan (Phulam Gamosa) to her near and dear ones as a token of love and respect. It was fascinating to learn that women not just dominated in weaving the silks but in districts of Goalpara, where a lot of silkworm rearing is done, it’s the Rabha women who take the lead.

The multi-coloured cotton threads, that have largely replaced zari, to form colourful patterns in the silk sarees

Which Miri also did with fine finesse. The Muga silk she was weaving had a golden sheen that she told me grows more lustrous with each wash. This was used, together with zari, to weave fabrics for royalty. Today, the zari has been replaced by multicoloured cotton threads. The designs woven into these fabrics are drawn from the flora of Assam and, as in other parts of India, are symbolic of the different tribes and ethnic groups of the area. One speciality of this region is the bamboo weft designs, eight in number, which are used as variations in weaving patterns.

I learnt that as many as twelve types of looms are said to be in use in the state which may be broadly grouped into the Throw Shuttle Loom, Lion Loom, Pit Loom and Fly Shuttle Loom. The first one is found in almost every Assamese household while the second one is in common use among the hill tribes. Migrant weavers from Bangladesh mostly use Pit Loom. The Fly Shuttle loom which is a recent introduction is an improved type of frame which considerably increases the output of the weavers. Of the more than 17 lakh people in Assam involved in the handloom sector, silk production and weaving provides employment to over 54,000 families in Assam.

One of the beautiful traditional patterns woven at the loom

As demand and popularity rises, I also saw many looms using cheaper silk yarn sourced from states like Karnataka that are coloured to weave the designs into the muga and pat silks. This brings down the cost of production and therefore results in an increase in sales of relatively cheaper priced silk sarees and mekhalas. I tried to cloak my disappointment with this by acknowledging the fact that lower priced sarees, even if they weren’t all locally sourced, would increase the popularity of this fine piece of art, which in turn can only help the lovely women of Assam gain more employment.

As I walked towards the market from the village where I spent the day, I realized there were more than 80 stores in that narrow lane alone. And there were many such lanes in Sualkuchi, where the saree stores competed for space with the zillion Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh temples. I bought a silk saree, very similar to the one Miri was weaving and as I walked back to my car, I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of the many dreams she was weaving in the designs every day!

The lovely village of Sualkuchi

All Photographs Credit: Meena Vaidyanathan

India is estimated to have about 635 indigenous communities. Each of these groups of people have a unique identity, with their very own brand of culture, traditions and folklore. Unfortunately, most of this knowledge is passed on from generation to generation in the oral form, and in the face of dwindling tribal population, advent of modern education and widespread displacement in the name of development, most of this ancient wisdom is getting eroded. This is where a group of individuals calling themselves Acoustic Traditional are making an effort to preserve the precious heritage.

Dear Readers,

“Once upon a time…the kind king got married…together they slayed many demons…and then the king and the queen lived happily ever after…”

Do you relate to similar stories your Grandma would have narrated to you a few years back? I remember listening to fairy tales and mythological stories from my parents and grandparents before switching off to my dream world of imaginations. Then while I was growing I graduated from story listener to book reader and then to a story teller. I guess many of us share a similar upbringing. This time The Better India got a beautiful and extensive opportunity to know, interact and hear stories from Acoustic Traditional (AT).

The Acoustic Traditional Team and Volunteers

It was during the year of 1999 in Nepal, when Mr. Salil Mukhia Kwoica and Ms. Barkha Henry thought about preserving the mountain folk music by documenting and transcribing them into sheet music (staff notations) in the hope that the music would be available for the generations to come. Mr. Salil Mukhia Kwoica says,

I was teaching music at one of the schools in Kathmandu those days and often found time to travel the country side to listen to some old folk tunes which I would send to Barkha (who was in Darjeeling). She would then transcribe it for an instrument (usually Guitar). However, the process of documentation quickly revealed a vast arena of study as we came across the stories, myths and legends on which the music was originally based. The realization that these stories, myths and legends were in fact the bed rock of the community’s identity, culture and heritage and that they were becoming extinct as they were passed down from one generation to another usually through ‘oral storytelling traditions’, led us to study this area and to include a wider community in our work.

There are many indigenous communities, where population is gradually reducing and the only way their history passes on is by oral narration usually from a Shaman to his successor (a Shaman is the head/priest of the community). However with urbanization, such history is becoming lost and remains untold to the younger generations. This is where AT has taken the initiative and works in the area of documenting the oral history, the community stories, and their way of life etc, through research and dissemination projects. Their flagship annual event “the Festival of Indigenous Storytellers” is one such initiative which brings together tribal storytellers from across the country in view of sharing their stories with the world.

A snapshot of the Festival of Indigenous Storytellers 2011 - an annual event held by AT

These narrations are not just stories but have a lot of significance in day to day rituals and are a matter of anthropological study and research. Example: Mr. Salil Mukhia Kwoica, once narrated “For a particular period in the year, some communities worship the river and do not kill the fishes; it is not superstition but actually in this month, fishes swim upstream to reproduce and lay eggs and hence should not be killed.” All such practices are relevant and interwoven by AT. Currently, they have been traveling around Eastern Himalayas – Sikkim region and documenting folklore on Yeti and have come across many people who claim to have seen the Yeti. AT is working day and night, enjoying living with the community members and capturing their stories and planning to extend this research trip to Nepal and Bhutan.

It was an engrossing time discussing stories and obtaining views and opinions of Mr Salil Mukhia Kwoica, Ms Minket Lepcha and Ms Barkha Henry. Below is an excerpt of the interview by the group:

What geographies does Acoustic Traditional cover?

Acoustic looks at working especially with mountain and forest based communities – also those communities which are seemingly vanishing (in terms of population) and where the documentation of oral traditions is nonexistent. Our focus areas have been Eastern Himalayas and the Nilgiris.

But in terms of storyteller identification/participation, we have a national reach (Karnataka/ Tamil Nadu/ Andhra Pradesh/ West Bengal/ Manipur/ Nagaland/ Sikkim/ etc.)

How would you describe your work life? How would a day of yours be like?

Ms Minket Lepcha: “As a documentalist my day involves working around with interviews mostly with the community elders, especially the Shamans. The interviews usually imply gathering of information on the community’s oral mythology and folklore. This depends on the nature of the project, but usually these are the things that I document. My work is mostly based in tribal villages (in Dzongu at the moment) and starts early. I often have to walk long distances to meet up with the people, sometime it takes over a day just to reach a particular community by walk. I usually spend over a week’s time at the informant’s house just to get him/her comfortable with speaking. Since most of the Shamans are old it is difficult for them to recollect stories, myths etc. and many times I join them in their household chores trying to get the story out.

However, documenting in a community is an extensive task and the engagement with the community is for a very long time, sometimes even years as we have to understand them and how they function for them to be comfortable enough to share their stories with us.”

What are the fun aspects and the challenges involved?

It is always fun in the field as the terrain is scenic and at times spiritual. Interacting with the community, being invited to their ceremonies, rituals, sometimes being chased by children and old drunken storytellers is even more fun. At the end, we make up a family.

Acoustics Traditional holds frequent engagements in schools in the Sikkim-Darjeeling belt to sensitize the children about their rich cultural heritage

Accessibility to the villages has been a major concern because the weather changes drastically in the mountains in a short span of time causing landslides. In winters the snowfall is very heavy and that is the time when I have to postpone my scheduled visit to the villages. The other major challenge is to correctly interpret the storytellers because of the language barrier. Though a local translator is also accompanying, however a lot of ethnic words do not have an equal expression in English hence get dissolved in the process of translation.

Tell us something about the Lepcha community.

The Lepchas or the ‘Rongkup’ (being their original tribe name) are the aboriginal people of Sikkim and Darjeeling in the Eastern Himalayas. Their belief system is based on nature worship headed by a ‘Bongthing’ (Male Shaman) or a Mun (Female Shaman). They are also one of the oldest tribes in the region.

It is often quoted that the tribal communities are getting disconnected from the rest of the populace over the years. What is your take on that?

While this might be a popular notion and in many developmental ways true, there is this entire phenomenon of them being de-rooted from their own community structures due to persistent developmental attitudes that governments, educational institutions etc. bring in. Of course they remain marginalized in terms of their bigger picture but what remains true is the fact that their meaningful development can be asserted not by coercive mainstreaming but by understanding them – the relevance of their amazing traditional knowledge, rituals, practices, oral history etc. In fact this is one priority area of Acoustic Traditional work – to bring out their relevance in their urban context.

Ms Barkha Henry’s take on the same: “But I think that disconnect with their own rich traditional base is more critical to take note of. In this regard, we are losing account of mankind’s primitive history and social/ spiritual development; Anthropologically this is a very big loss.

AT travels to remote areas and interacts with the communities, sometimes staying for a week in their homes and helping with chores, in order to understand their culture and record their stories.

It may be surprising to note but the whole notion of mainstreaming them is so intrusive and devastating, that it is making them quite disabled. We need to understand that tribal communities bring in their own “scientific heritage” and knowledge systems. Removing that completely from them and giving them a “new” education has hardly helped anything. In fact, in terms of sustainability and conservation, we still find that their mechanisms are far more effective than what most modern means offer.

As such, the context of integrating them organically is far more critical than merely mainstreaming them using mainstream ideas. I feel that first the general populace needs to understand them.”

Thank you so much for taking time to respond. Is there anything more you would like to share with our readers?

Ms Minket: “While I was listening and documenting stories – which are simple and yet so wise – it made me realize the importance that these stories held for the community. It was these stories that bound them together. The fact that I belonged to the same community and was coming closer to myself through these stories gave me a whole new experience and understanding of the lingering question of ‘why they do things the way they do?’ which I had in my mind. Most of the stories, when studied closely, had a reason to co-exist harmoniously as per my understanding.”

The Big Foot Campaign was run by AT in 2012 in order to raise awareness about the dying myths and legends of our tribes

When we asked the organization about the external support structure, Mr. Salil Mukhia Kwoica shared with us that they greatly valued individual support, where school children and working professionals are involved, and all of them together arrange funds by creating activities (story telling sessions, workshops etc), documenting and publishing stories. They organized a “Big Foot Campaign” in Darjeeling where students actively participated and roamed around in big shoes and the campaign was a huge success. They also receive some amount of Government support.

They are organizing their annual event – A Festival of Indigenous Storytellers, Confluence – III, on a big scale in the month of December. Click here to know more about the event.

All Photos: Courtesy Acoustic Traditional

Shishu Sarothi is an award-winning NGO based in Assam, reaching out to children with cerebral palsy and related disorders. The care and love given to these children was apparent to the author, when she spent a summer interning there, and came away with memories that will never fade. These children are coming to Delhi to perform a play on the 20th November. Be sure you are there to encourage and cheer them.

Around two summers back, my friend and I decided to spend our summer in Shishu Sarothi, Guwahati. Shishu Sarathi is a centre for Rehabilitation and Training for multiple disability and has been reaching out to many children of Northeast India since 1987.

Diwali celebrations at Shishu Sarothi - an NGO in Guwahati, Assam that caters to the needs of children with cerebral palsy

It began as a non-profit organisation in 1987 at a time when the nearest facility for intervention and management of children with cerebral palsy and its associated disabilities was located in Kolkata. Shishu Sarathi in fact became the first institution in Assam to cater specifically to the needs of children with cerebral palsy.

I interned there for two months and I recall that summer as my best ever. I was exposed to a whole new world of people. The children were arranged in different classes according to their progress. We spent time teaching them how to paint, play, add numbers, draw, color and worked on making them independent in doing their own day to day activities.

Without knowing, they welcomed us into their world and made us a part of it with so much trust, love and ease. These children were wild and free and were always full of courage. They wore their guts on their sleeves. I have never seen fear in their eyes, they were always on the move, wanting to learn more, explore more and do the impossible. Performing stunts was the common craze with most of them there, leaving us fascinated and enchanted by their spirit.

The students and teachers at Shishu Sarothi share a very strong bond, and it shows in the love and attention paid to the children

Every morning when i reached there, they would welcome me with their best smile, hold my hand and drag me inside the class. They enjoyed their activities and since painting is my favourite, I partially dragged them into the world of colors and in turn they taught me how never to bother about what you want to paint but be really proud of the outcome, whatever it turned out to be. These kids loved to laugh and they would do anything to make you laugh your hardest.

They made it very difficult for me to stay in one class for long. I wanted to be in every class with everyone all the time. It was a pleasure spending time there and I never wanted my internship to come to an end. These children taught me how to love and how to be brave. They were trained really well and groomed very properly. Both the teachers and students in the institute worked hard and shared such a strong bond that it was difficult not to love and admire them.

On the last day of my internship, One of the little girls went all over the institute to find her phone number to give it to me so that I wouldn’t forget her. With their little gestures, they win everybody’s hearts and teach them how to love, how to accept and how to trust.

Shishu Sarothi has received the Best Institution Award from the President of India in 2004 and the State Award for Best Community Service from the Chief Minister of Assam In 2007. It has served the society with pride for 25 years now and held its Silver Jubilee celebrations on May 1, 2012 with a concert, the highlight of which was B V Karanth’s Kannada play Buddhuram, directed by national award winning theatre artiste Bhagirathi of Seagull Theatre.

For their Silver Jubilee celebrations this year, the children at Shishu Sarothi performed a play Buddhuram, and now they are coming to Delhi to put up a show!

The idea of performing the play had its genesis in the knowledge that performing arts can be both therapeutic and motivational for children with disabilities. As Bhagirathi says,

In my career as a theatre artist, I have learnt more from the hidden talents of the children at Shishu Sarathi than what I have taught. They have completely changed my views about life. Directing performances for these special children has been a great challenge and even as I try o bring out their best, I realise how wonderfully talented they all are.

Buddhuram is a play about a pair of children realising the practical aspects of life and their own shortcomings. These children are coming all the way to Delhi from Guwahati to perform the play on the 20th of this November at Abhi Manch in National School of Drama at 6 PM. I would request all of you to join in, enjoy, boost their confidence and encourage them.

‘Responsible tourism’ is a lot more than just “not littering” It is about connecting with the local people and their culture, about leaving the environment in a better state than before, about improving lives of the locals, about giving more than taking, and much more. A travel company that operates in North East India is trying to be ‘responsible’. Let’s find out how.

All of us have dreamt of going to the North East sometime, but very few of us actually end up going to these beautiful hills. It’s a fascinating land shrouded in mystery and many intriguing stories of the area and its various tribes. It’s known as the Seven Sisters comprising of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Now with Sikkim joining in, NE India consists of 8 states.

Women at the Hornbill Festival – one of the most well known events of the area

NE India on the one hand has the mighty Brahmaputra River and on the other the Khangchendzonga peak. This region represents the traditional zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese bio-geographic regions making it the geographical gateway for much of India’s flora and fauna.

Most people do not travel here due to fear of insurgency and lack of adequate information being available about the locals and their culture. And, it is this fear that Piran Elavia of Kipepeo is helping people get over by taking them to North East India and enabling them to experience the unspoilt richness of the region.

Piran Elavia, founder Kipepeo

Interestingly, for Elavia too it started with fear. He too was scared of going to the North East initially. But, he was also keen on finding out more about the place to get over that fear. His quest to find out the truth of this place and his love for travel led him to take a sabbatical in 2008 from his well-paying and secure job in an IT company.

Weaving in a Naga village

The software professional researched for a few days and found an NGO called ‘The Mountain Institute’ in Sikkim. The Mountain Institute seeks to preserve mountain environments and advance mountain cultures by promoting worldwide partnerships that create innovative and sustainable solutions to global mountain problems. He decided to volunteer for ‘The Mountain Institute’ and thus got an opportunity to know the people of North East and learn about its culture. It was not for too long though. Elavia volunteered for just 2 months, but the work got him totally involved with the project.

Caving in Meghalaya – one of the attractions of the region

Thoroughly satisfied with his volunteering work, he came back to Mumbai to say a final goodbye to his job and to shift base to North East. “I left Mumbai one day after 26/11 happened and I had no idea what I was getting into,” says Elavia. He went back to volunteer for the Mountain Institute for another two months.

Describing his days in NE, Elavia describes that through the NGO that he was volunteering for he met some other people working on various projects in North East India, but the one he found most interesting was a project with the Bodo community in Assam.

Nagaland on the road

Says Elavia:

In December 2008, I embarked into the project to work in the Bodo Areas. I was a bit apprehensive. But, to my pleasant surprise, after a few days of being there I realized that the opportunity had turned out to be a life changing experience. Being there and interacting with the Bodo people was different. Contrary to what I had heard about this community, I found them to be friendly and warm-hearted people.

He further adds:

I also worked with a local NGO name ManasMaouzigendri Tourism Society (MMES) for 4 months teaching computers to school kids and helping the NGO manage their small tourism camp. During this period, I learnt a lot about the Bodos and found that they had moved on with their lives after their armed struggle. My work with this community made me think about doing something for the Bodos and other North Eastern tribes at large.

Elavia continued working in the NE for close to two years gaining exposure in the area and local contacts. Finally, in 2010 he launched his own responsible tourism company called Kipepeo (lyrical name of the ‘Butterfly’ in Swahili language).

Trek – interaction with porters

According to Elavia, Kipepeo believes tourism must be the happy face of conservation. Elavia has borrowed the name ‘Kipepeo’ from an enterprise by the same name in Kenya that successfully bridged the divide between conservation and livelihood of the local populace. Explains Elavia:

To us, here in India, those are the bridges we want to build and that is the balance we seek to create: between tourism and conservation, between equitability in society and sustainability of environment, between the quality of life for human beings and the quality of life around them, between enjoyment today and enjoyment tomorrow.

Explaining what responsible tourism is Elavia says, “Responsible tourism aims at increasing the positive impact of travel by enabling mutually enriching experiences between tourists and the environment, people and cultures they visit.”

A village in Nagaland

Kipepeo’s first objective as a responsible tourism company is to strive to build bridges between resources and needs, leisure and livelihoods, visitors and hosts, in ways that are sustainable and beneficial to all. It has been involving the local communities actively in the tourism process, to assist them economically and socially. Secondly, Kipepeo’s objective is to highlight to the outside world this beautiful albeit misunderstood region of India.

“I want to change the way people think about NE India and get their fear out. Instead I want people to visit these places and take back wonderful memories with them,” says Elavia.

Kipepeo offers tours in the North East in places such as Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. One can explore these places via treks and wildlife tours, caving in Meghalaya and home stays in Sikkim and Arunachal.

If you want to explore the Bailey’s Trail in Arunachal, or be in Nagaland for the Hornbill festival and get up close and personal with the local people and culture in these places, Kipepeo offers them all.

Views from Sukhadhap campsite

So, is it a profitable business? Elavia says, “The motive is to make it a sustainable venture.” Kipepeo offers both fixed departure tours as well as customized tours. The company currently operates through word of mouth publicity and engagement on social media. In the last three years, the company has had around 150 people taking these tours to various places in NE India and the business just about broke even in May 2013.

Going forward, Elavia’s goal is to bridge the gap between the North East India and the outside world.

They say travel frees the mind. Watch this short film from the amazing parts of North East India. One of the most beautiful but less explored regions of India, the north east is a treasure trove of nature and culture.

On rare mornings when the sky is clear, the rays of the rising Sun strike the Kanchenjunga peak and set it aflame. One by one the adjoining peaks catch this light and turn crimson. One of the few places in India, from where one can witness this match-light effect is the small town of Pelling in West Sikkim.

Meanwhile in Dawki, Meghalaya close to the border of India and Bangladesh runs a river with waters that are crystal clear. Clear enough for some people to catch fish simply by spotting and lifting them up.

And in the open grasslands of Kaziranga and Manas in Assam, one can get dangerously close to gigantic one horned rhinos. Close enough to hear them chew the grass as you sit on top of your elephant ride.

Watch the North East in all its glory

Floods in Assam and Meghalaya , the result of a sudden cloud burst, have resulted in more than 100 casualties till now. Around 2000 villages are still submerged. These teams of volunteers have joined forces with local ground partners to support victims of the flood affected areas in the North East. Here’s how you can come forward to help and spread the word.

Floods and earthquakes are some of the most devastating, cataclysmic events of nature. Just recently, India was grappling with the J&K floods where the state of Jammu and Kashmir was up against the worst natural calamity the state has witnessed in the last 100 years.

In J&K, the Indian Air Force and a bunch of volunteers came together to form the jkfloodrelief.org , about which TBI had written here. Now, there is another catastrophe that has become the scourge of the nation. Floods in Assam and Meghalaya , the result of a sudden cloud burst, have resulted in 100 casualties till now. More than 2000 villages are still submerged. The people of Assam and Meghalaya feel ignored by the central government, and rightly so.

However, the same group of volunteers who played a central role in co-coordinating flood relief in J&K (jkfloodrelief.org), have come forward and are now reaching out to people in the affected regions of the North Eastern states.

VOICE

VOICE (Volunteers Online for Impact in Crisis and Emergencies) is a worldwide citizen coordinated crisis response team. They have responded to three recent disasters in India – Uttarakhand, Phailin, and JK floods.

Now, the team is coordinating North East India flood relief efforts. For that, VOICE (incrisisrelief.org) has partnered with AIRDC in Assam. Collection centres and local support in Goalpara district (Assam) is being provided by NEDSF. In Meghalaya, they are working with local NGOs VHAM (Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya) and Bakdil to survey and distribute relief.

One of the volunteers, part of the VOICE team working on the ground, gave TBI an example of how the team has been able to coordinate online and offline action using social media for social good in the wake of the Assam tragedy.

When the news of Assam floods, broke out there was no organized support system or volunteer support group to fall back on. It was then that Baishalee, the ground coordinator in Assam who is now leading relief efforts in the region, got in touch with AIDRC (Association for Inclusive Development and Research Centre) and really started relief operations when there was practically no response from any other organization.

“People in Dirima (Assam) were in dire need of basic materials like blankets, dal (pulses), etc. So, VOICE raised the call for donations based on this ground information, and using social media, were able to raise the amount within 24 hours. Within minutes of distributing the goods, the team tweeted the information to the donors,” says Baishalee.

The citizen-led model of VOICE spans 4-5 time zones with volunteers from USA, Korea, Singapore and India working round the clock, collaborating and sustaining relief efforts 24×7.

North East Flood Relief Efforts

InCrisisRelief is the only organized group working with Bakdil NGO and a host of other on-ground NGOs in the Garo hills district areas of Meghalaya for setting up an emergency relief supply network .

So, far @IncrisiRelief , has distributed blankets, rice, dal and cleaning supplies to more than 1000 families in Dilinga 1 & 2 and Dirima in Kamrup district and Lakhipur, Badaka and Sildubi in Goalpara districts of Assam.

However, there is a lot more that needs to be done and we need to come forward and support VOICE in their quest for providing succor to people under immense distress.

We can help them by joining their relief effort following the hashtag #NEFloodRelief on twitter and making generous contributions.

OR we can just sit back, forget about it and feel an evanescent guilt every time this KBC advertisement about one of the NE cities comes on.

Due to bad road conditions and lack of airlift provisions, InCrisisRelief cannot ship materials, so they are procuring relief materials locally with the help of their ground partner NGOs and voluntary organizations.

The bank details of the local partners are given below.

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Read how Lalthanzami of Mizoram left behind a life of domestic violence and inspired other victims to stand on their feet too. They not only earn their own bread and butter but have also learnt not to suffer in silence. Their journey from abuse to empowerment is inspiring. 

It is generally believed that women in North East enjoy far greater freedom and suffer less abuse than their counterparts in other parts of India. Unfortunately this is just a myth. A growing tide of domestic violence and dowry deaths clearly indicate that when it comes to the rights of women, the North East suffers the same fate as elsewhere. In the state of Mizoram too, women are increasingly suffering abuse at the hands of husbands who often leave them without any financial support.

Lalthanzami (right) in Safe Home with another member

G. Lalthanzami of Mizoram was brave enough to walk out from an abusive marriage along with her small son. But what she did next took even more courage. Lalthanzami desperately wanted to learn how to speak in English and operate a computer. She knew that without these skills, it would be very difficult to fulfill her dreams. But she was without any means of supporting herself. She finally took a step forward.

She came to know about Foundation for Social Transformation (FST), a philanthropic organization based in the North East, working exclusively to provide grants to promote grass root work for development. She applied for a grant which was quickly approved and a new avenue of opportunity opened up for Lalthanzami.

She spent the next year learning how to work on a computer and honed her English speaking skills. She could now write in English too, which was impossible for her before.

Lalthanzami with a child staying at the Safe Home.

Lalthanzami did not stop at empowering just herself. She wanted to help other victims of domestic violence in her area. In spite of the growing rate of gender violence, safe homes for women are unavailable in Aizawl. Without a place to go, most women suffer in silence. The society too nurtures an attitude of negative discrimination against women who walk out of abusive marriages. Lalthanzami wanted to change this attitude of silence towards domestic violence, and provide other survivors a safe refuge.

She was able to use her Computer and English skills to connect with other people working for women’s rights, get more training on human rights, and even apply for different funds to start a home for other survivors of domestic violence. She used all her meager resources to start a ‘Safe Home’ for women who suffered domestic abuse and had nowhere to go along with their children.

Lalthanzami counselling women in Mizoram.

The next year, Lalthanzami applied for another grant. This time she wanted to start a piggery project and employ other victims of domestic abuse so that they had a steady source of income. This grant too was approved by FST and, with the amount, Lalthanzami purchased a couple of pigs to start the enterprise.

Lalthanzami has won accolades for her pioneering work, including the State Level Youth Club Award in 2010 conferred by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan,Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India. She was also awarded with Dr. Ambedkar Fellowship National Awards 2010 by Bharatiya Dalit SahityaAkademy.

Lalthanzami with other survivors of violence and abuse at her shelter home, Mizoram

Unfortunately, funds to run the Safe Home ran out and since 2013, Lalthanzami has been trying to raise the much needed money. FST has started a campaign to revive Lalthanzami’s Safe Home. They are trying to raise enough to support at least 20 women survivors of gender and domestic violence. The Safe Home, in addition to providing a place to stay, will help the women get access to legal and psycho-social counselling, and livelihood training.

DONATE HERE to support Lalthanzami’s cause.

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1. Deo Langkhui by Rita Chowdhury

Photo source: wikipedia

2. Datal Hatir Unye Khuwa Howdah (The Termite/Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker) by Indira Goswami

Photo source: wikipedia

3. Mrityunjaya by Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya

4. Boro Saheb Ongbi Sanatombi by M.K. Binodini Devi

 5. Basain by Lil Bahadur Chhetri

Photo source: bossnepal

6. Naye Kshitij ki Khoj by Asit Rai

Photo source: Indiaclub

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This year, the 40-something leader has been chosen to represent Kulai-Champahour (ST) constituency for the third consecutive term, but each time, she says, “one has to work hard, stay connected with the people and not take anything for granted”.

Picture for representation only. Credit: Flickr

“One can always work for the betterment of society either as a social worker or an activist. Yet, becoming an elected leader has given me the power to do much more for my people and positively influence policy-making, which has a long term impact,” she points out.

Whereas women are at the forefront of activism, and even come out in large numbers to vote, they are conspicuous by their absence from political office.

Picture for representation only. Credit: Flickr

Sandhya Rani Chakma, has been able to overcome the hurdles to take up a place on the TTAADC for a third consecutive term from Chakma Karamchhara (ST) constituency.

“I have been in the political sphere for over a decade now and I truly believe that more women need to be in politics. As elected members of the government we can do more work, assist people effectively and have a widespread impact. My work is a testimony to this,” she says proudly.

These opinions are echoed by Madhumati and Sandhya’s counterpart in the Manipur (Hill Area) Autonomous District Council, Hatthing Doungel.

She says, “In my first term I was only learning the ropes of governance. This time around I have a clear agenda for development and I know exactly how to go about fulfilling it.”

Only three women, including Doungel, have been winners out of around 10 female candidates (unofficial sources).

“At the moment the ADCs are only an implementing body. We get funds from the state government to execute welfare schemes. My Phaitol constituency is backward and the new government has discontinued the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) so we don’t know how things will work out in the future. Nevertheless, one has to be optimistic,” she says.

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“We are aware of our positive status and are concerned for our family members. We love each other and make it a point to religiously have our medicines and take all necessary precautions,” says Suraiya confidently, adding, “What is needed is a move to counsel others so that they too learn to live with people like us.”

In the last decade, states in northeast India have registered a greater number of HIV cases than other parts of the country.

Image for representation only. Credit: Saadia Azim\WFS

“It is not living differently, it is just unusual,” says the Class Eleven student, who was born with HIV. “I have been having medicines since childhood – I take them every morning and night like I have food. But what I would really wish for right now is to not be discriminated against or treated any differently from other children,” she shares.

Thaodem and Nesa belong to the second generation of people living with HIV and they are focused on working towards not just taking care of themselves but also building “a life beyond discrimination and hatred”.

Photo Credit: Sham Hardy/Flickr

He says, “I am 48 and have lived with the virus for most of my life. My wife and daughter are not infected and I make that extra effort to ensure their safety. I hope that my daughter never encounters discrimination and that she does not live with the apprehension of being outed as the daughter of a positive person.”

“And all this happened because people realised she was a positive person. Her grandparents, who stood by her till the very end, do not have any legal claims over the land Kiran inherited from her parents. Sadly, the elders have seen two generations being taken away from them,” remarks Impuri Ngayawon of World Vision, an international humanitarian non-profit, that is working to empower positive people in the state.

Adds Daisy David, National Advocacy Officer, World Vision, “There is a lot of fear-based stigma in society. People are simply scared to contract the disease and so they discriminate and ostracise. But children living with the virus are citizens who are entitled to enjoy equal rights. They want their parents to be healthy and working. They also want access to good nutrition so that they can live somewhat normally and sustain the ART treatment.”

The MNP+ has prepared a 15-point resolution, addressing the different concerns of positive people related to health, stigma, education, nutrition, and disclosure and succession rights.

Picture for representation only. Source: Flickr

“There has to be some law to protect people like us. While on the one hand we fight the battle for our life, on the other, people do not want us near them,” says Ibemcha, who is making ends meet by selling detergent powder and soap.

If the drugs are not available when they visit, which is often the case, then they have to keep a track of the availability.

Picture for representation only. Source: Flickr

“There are more than 21 lakh people living with HIV in India, including over 1.5 lakh children. Even if the first generation PLHIV were not so careful or well informed the second generation is vigilant and sensitive. Yet, fear and anxiety is still a big part of their existence. They are scared that they will not get admission in a competent learning institution, a good job will be out of their reach, they will not be able to marry, get their rightful inheritance or do all the things that are usually taken for granted. Something has to be done; they cannot be termed a lost cause,” concludes Singh.

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But absolutely nothing has deterred her from her mission: to ensure a conflict-free, safe and just environment for the women and children of her state.

Photo source: Flickr/Prachatal

Years later, when after many requests Sharmila didn’t budge from her decision to fast against AFSPA, Singhajit would recall this incident.

"How painful it must be to live like this. I think it’s her sacrifice for all the mothers who fed her milk," Sakhi says.

Sakhi had not sat by her youngest child for years, to ask her how she felt, to comfort her, caress her forehead.

Featured image sources: ignitesouthasia.com and iromsharmilachanu.wordpress.com

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Cloud-shrouded mountains of Meghalaya

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Emerald valleys of Manipur

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Fishing in picture-perfect Majuli

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Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya

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The lively MG Marg of Gangtok

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Traditional monsoon fishing in Assam

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The dreamy countryside of Nagaland

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Cheerful little locals in Sikkim

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The majestic Nohkalikai Waterfalls in Meghalaya

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The verdant landscape of Upper Assam

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The wildly beautiful Brahmaputra River

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Cloud kissed tea plantations of Jorhat

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The regal Ujjayanta Palace of Tripura

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The wet wilderness of Dibru Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

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Know more in a video here:

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"Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.” ― Erol Ozan

Exploring this pristine region with your own wheels gives you the freedom to detour to crystalline mountain lakes, stop to gawk at the gorgeous green hillside, and pull over wherever the aromas of fresh food beckons.

If you’ve got wheels, wanderlust and a spot of time, here’s some adventure fuel - the best road trips in Northeast India!

1. Shillong to Cherrapunji

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2. Guwahati to Moreh

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3. Jorhat to Mechuka

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4. Tezpur to Tawang

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5. Gangtok to Tsomgo Lake

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6. Kalimpong to Zuluk

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According to their headmaster, they were deeply moved by the plight of the rhino babies struggling to survive without their mother's milk and wanted to do something to help feed them.

Image source

According to Barman, "Never have I come across an instance where I was told by the teacher that children below 12 had on their own given up a meal for the sake of wildlife."

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Order any dish from a street eatery in the Northeast and it's likely to be packed with an abundance of flavours that come at a minimal price. Contrary to popular perception, Northeast food is way more varied than just momos and noodles, although these too can taste divine.

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In short, the street food in Northeast India is extraordinary but you definitely need some prior knowledge about what the region is best known for. Here are 8 amazing local delights from Northeast India that will leave your palate demanding more. Let the culinary adventure begin!

1. Laksa from Assam

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2. Alu Muri in Meghalaya

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3. Thenthuk from Arunachal Pradesh

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4. Chikhvi in Tripura

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5. Smoked Pork Stir Fry in Nagaland

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6. Sanpiau from Mizoram

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7. Kelli Chana in Manipur

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8. Shapale in Sikkim

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