Issue ·10 & 11

October 2010· March 2011

A Publication of Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati

From the Director's Desk

Namaskar

At the outset please accept our Rongali Bihu Greetings! May the "Joy" of Rongali Bihu further enlighten us and strengthen our social bondings.

VKIC is glad to inform you about its events and activities for the period from October 2010 to March 2011.

At the very outset I have the pleasure to inform you that I have been entrusted with the responsibility of looking after the research activities of the VKIC in the capacity of Director, Research Advisory Council - a responsibility that I assumed on 4 February, 2011. Really I feel honoured. I look forward to cooperation from all quarters.

As already stated in the previous Newsletter, the Sanskriti Anveshak Forum, VKIC has been organising a series of lecture- cum-interactive sessions on Land Policy and Land Revenue System in Assam every month. In this series, we have had six lectures delivered by several Scholars on sub-themes of the aforesaid topic since October 2010. Prof Abani Kr. Bhagabati spoke on Wetlands of Assam: Past, Present and Future; ProfJN Phukan spoke on Land Policy and Revenue System of the Ahoms, Dr Romesh Buragohain spoke on the Land Use Policy of the Ahoms - A Green Revolution Perspective, Prof Priyam Goswami spoke on Land Policy and Land Revenue System during the British Period [1826-861; Dr. Rajib Handique spoke on Colonial Forest Policy and Land Resources in Assam and in March last, Dr. Nagen Saikia spoke on Land Grants to Temples, Sattras and Other Religious Institutions.

A junction was organised at the VKIC to dedicate a research section of the Reference Library of the institute in memory of Late Suresh Chandra Rajkhowa, eminent educationist of Assam, and former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University on 4 November, 2010.

VKIC celebrated its Foundation Day on 31 January, 2011. On this occasion, Shri Radhika Mohan Bhagawati, eminent Writer, Journalist & Editor, Dainik Asom who was the Chief Guest of the programme conferred the VKIC SANMAN, 2011 on thirty1ive year old Kum. Aningiu Meriam, Vice President, Zeliangrong Mipui, Nagaland who has dedicated herself to bring about a socio-culiurai renaissance and to nurture the indigenous faith and culture of the Zeliangrong Naga Community.

The Seventh Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan Memorial Biennial Lecture was organized by the VKIC on 22 March 2011. The Guest Speaker, Prof Mrinal Miri, Former Vice Chancellor, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and Member, Research Advisory Council, VKIC, spoke on the topic 'The Spiritual and the Moral'.

On the same occasion three ofVKIC's publications- The Sattra Institution of Assam- An Overview; Heritage of Kll1nakhya on the Nilachala Hill and Golden Vine ofRi Hynniewtrep - The Khasi Heritage were released for a wide readership. The first two were the result of the painstaking documentation projects undertaken by the VKIC, the third one the research and experience of well known Khasi Scholar, Rgh.Surnar Sing Sawian.

VKIC promises to relentlessly continue its pursuit of research and academic excellence - a task for which we solicit your co-operation.

D.C. BAROOWA

Seventh Vedanta Vachaspati Radhan Nath Phukan Memorial Biennial Lecture

VKlC organized the Seventh Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan Memorial Biennial Lecture was organized on 22 March, 2011.

Shri Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Chairman VKIC welcomed the gathering. Prof. DC Baroowa, Director Research Advisory Council, VKIC spoke on the life and achievements of Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan. The Guest Speaker, Prof. Mrinal Miri, Former Vice Chancellor, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and Member, Research Advisory Council, VKIC, spoke on the topic 'The Spiritual and the Moral'.

Prof. Miri said that Spirituality and Morality are natural allies. At the outset he dwelt on the different approaches to spirituality- the Catholic Christian, the Sufi and the Hindu. All these views are dependent on the idea of detachment from the world of mundane reality. Speaking on Gandhi and spirituality, he said that spirituality must be embedded in everyday life - which is necessarily also the proper arena of the moral life.

Prof. Miri stressed that spirituality is primarily concerned with self-knowledge which requires effort of a very special kind. While self-knowledge and the life of morality are interdependent, he clarified that the assertion for self identity by small collectives - community, sub-community - that is taking place might appear spiritual as it is also in part about self knowledge. But it is not moral for in these assertions politics is involved because of which ego comes in and hence morality takes a back seat. Thus these assertions are often at the expense of national! universal concerns, he said.

Noted Physicist and Former Vice Chancellor, Dibrugarh University Prof. Kulendu Pathak was the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour was Justice SN Phukan, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India.

Three publications of the VKIC, The Heritage of Kamakhya on the Nilachala Hill, the Golden Vine of Ri Hynniewtrep and The Sattra Institution of Assam - an Overview was released by Prof

Kulendu Pathak, Justice SN Phukan and Prof Mrinal Miri respectively. Prior to the release, Kum.N. Sujatha, Rgh. Sumar Sing Sawian and Shri Atulananda Goswami briefed the packed gathering about each of the above books.

VKIC Foundation Day, 2011

The Foundation Day of VKIC, Guwahati was held on 31 January, 2011 in the Williamson Magor Auditorium of the Institute in which the annual VKIC SANMAAN was also awarded.

In his Welcome address, Shri Dipok Kr Barthakur, Chairman, VKIC highlighted the I objectives of the programme. The Chief Guest, Shri Radhika

Mohan Bhagawati,

eminent Writer,

Journalist & Editor, Dainik Asom conferred the VKIC SANMAN, 2011 on Kum. Aningiu Meriam, Vice President, Zeliangrong Mipui, Nagaland.

Speaking on the significance of the Foundation Day & the VKIC Sanmaan, Prof. Dinesh Chandra Baroowa, Director, Research Advisory Council, VKIC, said that the VKIC has been organizing this programme since 1999 to honour a person of eminence who has made significant contribution to the society in the field of preservation, protection and advancement of traditional culture. The Sanmaan consists of a Citation, a Plaque and Cash award of no,ooo only.

Kum. Aningiu Meriam hails from the Zeliang N aga community. After her graduation, she followed the path of Haipou Jadonang and Rani-Ma Gaidinliu by channelising her devotion to Lord Tingwang, in the service of the Motherland. Since then she has been a part of several socio-culturalreligious organizations for women. She has been the President of the Zeliangrong Heraka Palei Baudi and presently she is the Vice-President of Zeliangrong Mipui. She has thus inspired a trend among the youth to dedicate themselves to a life of fulfillment through socio-cultural renaissance and to nurture the indigenous faith and culture of the Zeliangrong N aga community. On receiving the award, Kum. Aningiu Meriam said that the award honours all such workers who are involved in the process of sustaining the socio-cultural fabric of the Zeliangrong Naga community. Speaking on the secessionist aspirations in Nagaland she opined that a majority of the Nagas honour the Constitution of Bharatvarsh. They wish to live within India. Those who advocate secession from Bharatvarsh are a microscopic minority.

In his Chief Guest's address, Sri Radhika Mohan Bhagawati applauded VKIC for being an institution of excellence that is working to serve the society and people through the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda.

He appealed to the awardee Kum, Meriam, to inspire and motivate more people to serve the nation. This could be done through efforts of preservation and protection of the respective cultures of our great Indian society. He also released the latest issue of VKIC's research-based journal, Quest -India's Freedom Movement - Role a/the Northeast.

The programme concluded with a docu-drama on and by the Karbi Community. Headed by Sri Dhireswar Ronghang, Sonapur, Kamrup District, the one hour presentation on the traditional systems of the Karbi enthralled the audience.

Sanskriti Anveshak Lecture Series on Land Policy and Land Revenue System

In order to generate an informed perspective on Land Policy, VKIC has begun a new series of lecture-cuminteractive sessions on Land Policy and Land Revenue System of Assam. Six more talks took place after Shri Rajkumar Ajit Narayan Singha delivered the first one on Land Policy of Assam - a Perspective in July 2010.

The Second lecture of the series was delivered by eminent envi-

ronmentalist Prof.

Abani Kumar

Bhagabati, Dept. of Geography, Gauhati University. He spoke on the Wetlands of Assam: Past, Present and Future on 9 October, 2010.

Sufficiently saturated by water, wetlands function as a natural system and provide habitat for diverse fish, wildlife and plant species. They regulate drainage systems and climogenic events such as floods and droughts. Their role in safeguarding the environment and its ecological balance and sustenance of life is far-reaching. Human development largely rests on their conservation and sustainable use.

In India, wetlands cover around 3 percent of the country's land surface and Assam alone can boast of having more than 3500 wetlands. The lifestyle, culture and economy of the different communities inhabiting the Brahmaputra and the Barak Valleys are closely linked with these wetlands. But today all of them are under tremendous pressure. They are in a degraded form in terms of size, depth and levels of pollution.

Hence there is a felt need for serious and consistent intervention both on the governmental and public fronts to save this precious legacy. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan launched in 2001 covering all the states and eco-regions of the country carefully addressed the issues of wetland conservation and suggested strategies towards sustainable use and conservation of wetland resources. Even though wetlands which are inside the protected areas are relatively safe, the ones outside the protected areas are getting very rapidly degraded and even completely

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destroyed. Prof. Bhagabati opined that the only option left at this moment is to create awareness among the local people and encourage them to join hands with the authorities concerned for their protection.

Prof. Parimal Bhattacharjee, well known environmentalist and Retd. Professor, Dept of Zoology, Gauhati University conducted the session as Moderator.

The Third lecture was delivered by Prof. J N Phukan, Retd. Prof. & Head, Department of History, Gauhati University. He spoke on the "Land Policy and Revenue System in Assam during Ahom Period from 1228- 1826" on 13 November, 2010.

Prof. IN Phukan said that land is a basic need of human being of all people of all groups and communities. The Ahom land policy and revenue system was quite different from that which prevailed in the Chutiya, Kachari, Bhuyan, Koch and other minor states. The Moghal land system which was introduced in Kamrup was again different from all these. The Ahom rulers did not altogether abolish the existing systems. The Paik system was introduced by the Ahoms in 1228. Every male, between the age of fifteen and fifty who was not a noble, a priest, a high caste or a slave was known as a paik. The structure was modified by Momai Tamuli Borbarua in 1609. The duty of a paik was to render service to the Ahom state. In return he was granted 2 pur as (2.66 acres) of cultivable land (gaa mati), which was neither hereditary nor transferable. The paiks were further arranged by khels. It is believed that the coin was introduced during the reign of Jayadhwaj Singha who ruled from 1648-1663 AD. During the time of Jayadhwaj Singha(1648-1663 AD), two major systems for land revenue prevailed i.e. in kind in upper Assam and in cash in Kamrup. These taxes were not prevalent everywhere because there was a Land Grant system of the Ahoms. As such when the British occupied Assam during 1824-26 through Yandaboo Treaty they confronted a confusing land and revenue system.

The talk was moderated by Dr. Romesh Buragohain Retd.

Reader, Lunglei Govt. College, Mizoram, Former Principal, City College, Guwahati and Vice-President, Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti.

Use Policy of the Ahoms in the Perspective of a Green Revolution on 26 December, 2010.

Dr. Buragohain said that Land use policy is a subject of immense importance to achieve social development through culture. He explained that what the Green Revolution India strove for, is at a fundamental level, the use of land in order to secure agricultural surplus for food security.

The Ahoms introduced wet rice agriculture first at Charaideo area which can be treated as the starting of Green Revolution in Assam. The Ahern administration laid great emphasis on two areas - food and defense. Self sufficiency and surplus food production as also food security are important indices of social security today. Not only was food production in plenty during the Ahom period; everyone had access to it. This coupled with strategic defense polices led to national and socio-economic security. He also stated that the Paik System introduced by Ahom was the backbone of the Green Revolution. He emphasized that the study of land use policy of the Ahoms, gives us food for thought for future policy.

The session was moderated by Dr. Mita Deka, Associate Prof., Dept. of History, Gauhati University. She also supported Dr. Buragohain's view on the importance of the study of land use policy of the Ahoms.

The Fifth Lecture on Land Policy was

delivered by Dr.

Priyam Goswami,

Professor, Department of History, Gauhati University, She spoke on the Land Policy & Land Revenue System between 1826 & 1886 on 20 January, 2011.

Drawing on the colonial legacy of land policy and land revenue system in Assam, Dr. Goswami said that one of the first measures which the British formulated when they took over the administration of Assam in 1826, was the monetization of the economy. The earlier paik system, which involved the payment of land revenue in the form of personal labour services of the paik, was replaced by a regular assessment of land revenue based on the measurement of the land payable in cash.

Since revenue maximization was a primary objective of the colonial government, land revenue assessments continued to increase, despite the fact that there was neither any change in the general crop pattern nor any noticeable extension of cultivation. The high land revenue demand siphoned away a large portion of what could have been the cultivator's savings. In course of time, rural poverty became so acute that every assessment of land revenue raised storms of protest.

The Fourth Lecture on Land Policy was delivered by Dr. Romesh Buragohain, Retd. Reader, Lunglei Govt. College,

Mizoram and Vice Prof. Goswami also pointed out that the Government's

President, Kamrupa land policy was formulated to help the European capitalists

Anusandhan Samiti. and entrepreneurs to profitably exploit the economic

He spoke on the Land resources of the region. Large tracts of Wastelands were

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Upcoming events: • Seminar on Development & Security Organised by Vivekananda International Foundation in Collaboration with VKIC-Arunachal Pradesh Chapter

• Exhibition on South East Asia

• Sanskriti Anveshak Lectures on Land Policy & Land Revenue Systems

granted at nominal rates of revenue. This resulted in a scramble for land among European planters leading to over acquisition and underutilization of the land. While the planters formed the largest land-owning class in Assam, they contributed the least to the revenue of the province. Thus the land policy and land revenue system in Assam during this period reflected the exploitative nature of colonial rule.

Dr. Ranju Bezborua, Former Head, Dept. of History and Dean Faculty of Arts, Gauhati University conducted the session as Moderator.

The Sixth Lecture on Land Policy was delivered by Dr. Rajib Handique, Reader, Department of History, Dibrugarh

University. He

spoke on the

Colonial Forest Policy and Land Resources in Assam on 20 February; 2011.

Drawing on the colonial forest policy and land resources in Assam, Dr. Handique said that the colonial forest policy with its inherent imperial thrust on commercialization had farreaching impact on Assam. It had not only affected the landscape, but also changed the fundamentals of the land-use pattern in the province.

This was brought about by the relentless acts of extraction and imperial ordering carried on the forests of Assam. The Colonial state came to represent an elaborate system of resource extraction determining who was to have access to resources like that of the forests. It was a shift from a paradigm of 'forest for use' to 'forest for sale'. Commercialization of the forest resources lay at the core of that paradigm. Waste Land Grants made by the colonial government led to large scale alienation of forest land. Extension of agriculture also led to large scale deforestation in the colonial period in Assam. This was coupled with the large scale demographic change in the form of influx that took place as a part of the imperial process.

Post- independence era in Assam also largely represented a colonial continuum. Considering the conflict over resources, Dr. Handique opined that some scholars put the entire development under a paradigm of 'tribal entrapment', where the forest policies and the plantation economy pushed the indigenous population into the periphery of an enclave economy.

Hence, land reform initiatives need to comprehensively address the insidious contents of the underlying colonial continuum to usher in an era of equitable development.

Summing up the proceedings, the Moderator of the session, Shri Mohan Chandra Malakar, Retd. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam said that the colonial forest policies have affected the land resources in Assam. Waste Land Grants and the extension of agricultural land areas also led to large scale deforestation not only during the colonial period in Assam but also in the post-independence period.

Forthcoming VKIC Publications

The Seventh

Lecture on Land Policy was delivered by Dr. Nagen Saiki a, Noted i

Scholar and Former President, the Asom l

Sahitya Sabha. He I

spoke on the "Land Grants to Temples, ..... ._" _,. .... ," ....

Sattras and Other Religious Institutions" on 25 March, 2011.

The programme started with a Welcome Address by Prof.

D.C. Baroowa, the Director, Research Advisory Council, VKIC.

Dr. Saikia's said that the land grant inscriptions of the Ahom kings reflect important pages of the land revenue systems and of the cultural history of Assam. Debottar, Dharmottar and Brahmottar - these 3 kinds of land grants issued by the Ahom kings added distinctive dimensions to the tradition followed since the time of Bhaskaravarman. He also mentioned that due to the huge migration in to Assam such land was gradually occupied by migrant population. Hence, there is an urgent need for an appraisal of the condition of Temple and Sattra lands as also a need for a purposeful intervention.

The Programme was moderated by Shri Atulananda Goswami, Sahitya Akademi Awardee and Member, Research Advisory Council, VKIC. He clarified that the land policy followed by the Ahoms ensured religious, moral and spiritual uplift of the society encompassing all the varied faiths in their kingdom. The present status of these land grants, indicates that there is severe infiltration. It requires both a political and social will to rectify this menace, Shri Goswami said.

Suresh Chandra Rajkhowa Memorial Research Section

A function was organised at the VKIC to dedicate a Research Section of the VKIC's Reference Library in memory of Prof Suresh Chandra Rajkhowa, eminent educationist of Assam, on 4 November, 2010 at the VKIC Complex. Prof. Dinesh Chandra Baroowa, Former Registrar, Gauhati University; provided an insight into the activities of VKIC and highlighted the importance of a good reference library in a research institute. On the occasion, Prof. AC. Bhagabati, renowned academician and former Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, gave an illuminating talk on Inter-Community Relationship in North East India. Sri D.N. Bezboruah, distinguished journalist, presided over the function. The meeting was attended by people from all walks of life.

* Social Continuum in India with Special Reference to the North East * Traditional Systems of Some Communities of Tripura

Manipur File

Vivekananda Kendra's activities began again in Imphal after a gap of about two decades. An Adhoc organizing Committee headed by Shri Thongram Haridas Singh, Padmashri, as Chairman was constituted.

Fourteen people

attended a 10-day

introductory course,

Yoga for Holistic

Living was held from 19-28 November 2010. Sessions were conducted by Aadarneeya Meera Kulkarni, Prant Sangathak, Assam and Kum. Sujatha Nayak, Secretary; VKIC. The concluding function on 28 November at the Asha-Jina Complex was graced by Justice R.K Manisana Singh, (Retd.) Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and Former Chairman, Human Rights Commission, Assam as Chief Guest and Shri Thongram Haridas Singh. Several well wishers and former volunteers of Vivekananda Kendra attended the same. The speech rendered by the Chief Guest emphasised the need for Yoga in daily life.

16 January, 2011 saw the 148 Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. Shri R.K Danisana Singh, Nritya Bhushan and Senior Fellow, was the Chief Guest. Mananeeya Shri Pravin Dabolkar, Joint General Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari spoke on the relevance of Swami Vivekananda's life and message in the present times. Shri Th. Hardias Singh presided over the function.

Kutumbakam

As part of the Samartha Bharat Parva and on the occasion of the Kalpataru Divas - January 1- the day Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa blessed his householder disciples, VKIC and the Vivekananda Kendra Guwahati branch organized Kutumbakam - a one-day family Retreat-cum Gita J ayanti celebration.

The objective behind the programme was to strengthen and enhance family bonds and cultural values. Inaugurating the Camp, Smt. Binita Bhattacharyya, write and wife of Jnanpith Awardee, Late Shri Birendra Kumar Bhatacharyya said that the core unit of our nation is the family, Bharat will be uplifted only when our families are based on good sanskars, are harmonious and strong, she said. Separate sessions were held simultaneously for children and parents as well as young men and women. In the concluding programme,

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Adarneeya Meera Kulkarni, Prant Sangathak, Vivekananda Kendra Assam made an impassioned plea to the gathering to rise out of narrow confines and carry on the great legacy bequeathed by Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva.

MAGAZINE SECTION ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVE IN THE NORTHEAST

Guldasta - Initiative in the Handloom Sector:

The handloom sector is the largest economic activity after agriculture, providing direct and indirect employment to about thirty lakh weavers. This sector contributes nearly 22 percent of the total cloth produced in the country and also contributes substantially to the export income of the country. This collective endeavour is shaped by different hands and creative minds. One such personality who contributes immensely to the handloom sector is Shri Chandan Keshab, proprietor of Guldasta- a weaving and training centre at Boko, Kamrup District of Assam.

Chandan Keshab's initiation into the world of spinning and weaving started when he played with the jotor or spinning wheel in the ashram of his father- Shri Nabin Chandra Kalita who was a freedom fighter and Principal of the Hindi Training Centre, Diphu. He reminisces about having spun enough thread to make a shirt that he proudly wore to school. The spinning wheel never left his side even while he served two decades as a Combatant Member of the Indian Air Force. Even during those years he used to devote a few hours during the day to spin yarn. When he took voluntary retirement in 2001, Guldasta was born. The centre started with a team of 23 weavers. They initially started with the weaving of gamocha [Assamese towel which is also given as a token of respect] and muga products. Even though they did not make much profit in that year, Guldasta has since then seen steady growth with myriad of hues.

Chandan has been

working in the organised handloom sector in the Kamrup and Goalpara districts since 2001. From an initial concentration on producing diseasefree muga seed and rearing of muga silk, he ventured into eri silk and delved deep into issues related to eri silk production -disease control, feed issues and increasing the cocoon size.

In 2004 Chandan discovered a new species of silk worm which fed on Sal trees in the forests of South Kamrup and Goalpara. Named after a hill located in the vicinity, Langturi is a new addition to the non-mulberry sericulture sector of Assam. Chandan arranged a Langturi Festival in 2008 to generate awareness about this variety of tasar silk which he believes to be of a superior quality to those imported so far. He also believes that the promotion of this variety will definitely help in the economic upliftment of the people of those areas.

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Today, 400 people, mainly women in different villages, work directly for Guldasta. It trains, guides these workers and also buys and markets their products. Today, apart from the domestic clientele, Guldasta products cater to clients worldwide especially in Canada and Ethiopia.

In the autumn of 2008, Tim Mclaughlin, Contributing Editor of

the Wild Fibers

Magazine and

Charlotte Kwon the Founder of Maiwa Foundation, Canada made a trip to Assam and later when Charlotte conducted a natural dye workshop in February 2009, Chandan was the mediator. After the workshop, Chandan begun 'playing' with colours. His love for nature and forests further strengthened this 'discovery'. He learnt, experimented, practised and produced some excellent natural dyes from a variety of roots, plants, insects, gastropods and other natural materials. Since then, he has been using natural dyes to colour his cotton yarns and other fabrics especially eri silk. He had been the Resource person in various workshops of natural dyes on eri silk. He participated in the Maiwa Masterclass held in West Bengal.

He has trained and engaged more than 5000 girls and women in popularising organic/natural dye on eri silk and organic cotton. He is also engaged in identifying natural dye resources and documenting them for revival and posterity.

He has also authored a few books including Natural Dye (Workshop Book); Prakritik Rang (Natural Dye) Prakritik Rang: Kio am Kenekoi (N atural Dye- Why and How?); and coauthored Asomor Vanya Resomor Jilingoni (A Glimpse into the Wild Silks of Assam).

He hopes to create a new world by producing Slow Cloth (See Next Heading). In other words, he aspires to create cloth with natural fibers, hand-spun, hand reeled, hand woven using organic/ natural dye.

Chandan Keshab says that Assam and in fact the whole of North-East India, has great potential in the handloom sector especially in terms of fibre and natural dyes as well in the finished products. He says that in terms of fibre, muga and eri has great potential in both the domestic and international market for apparel and upholstery products.

The eri silk production in India is 1483 MTs per anum and about 90-95% of the total produce is catered by the Northeastern states. As evident, it can provide gainful employment to the people with emphasis on women folk in rural areas where poverty and unemployment is concentrated. This is more so since the popularity of Eri itself is growing steadily because of its softness, durability and warmth. This dual characteristic of the softness of silk as well as the warmth of wool holds a lot of promise as commercial venture- an obvious choice after the world famous Pashmina wool has been banned. Eri is also called "Ahimsa" silk as the eri silk

worms does not necessarily get killed in the process of producing yarn from the cocoon. Hence, it is extremely popular among consumers who care for the environment and respect the right of life for all living beings.

With the world's concern over environmental hazards of the textile industry, people are resorting more and more to ecofriendly textiles. This is a new concept which focuses on environmental and social compatibility along the entire textile production chain. Today, there is a craze for Eco-friendly textiles, Slow Cloth, Mother's Cloth (where solely women are engaged in the entire textile production chain). Here, Chandan Keshab feels that the North-East India can tap its resources harnessing the concern of environment-conscious clientele.

In terms of natural dyes too, the region has immense potential, says Chandan. Each community of North-east India has its vibrant colours several communities have their own indigenous way of dyeing yarn. Only in recent years have people turned to synthetic dyes or procure synthetic dyed yarn easily from the market.

Chandan says that the North-east India has a rich source of dyeing materials and a treasure house of indigenous knowledge of dyeing yarns .. The need of the hour is to encourage weavers with technical guidance and help them explore the market and improvise according to the needs of the market. This will not only empower them but also pave a way for the resurgence indigenous craft to survive.

While Chandan's inspiration was his father who initiated him into Gandhian principles and introduced him to the world of weaving, Chandan himself is an inspiration to many others who has taken up this craft as a profession.

The journey which had begun two decades back has come a long way. But Chandan feels he has still a long way to go. He plans to set up a Botanical Garden of Dye Plants and fibres; build up a Castor Plant Garden and Eri rearing Farm by the latter half of this year and targets to produce 120 quintal of eri cocoon, 30 kg eri seeds, 20,000 meters of eri cloth and dye them naturally. He also plans to set up two model villages for Eri Tourism. Already two groups have visited him as part of this project- Maiwa from Canada and Sabahar from Ethiopia led by Marshall Kathy. He also dreams of building a training institute of an international stature which will train people on different aspects of producing slow cloth.

These are 'small'but Significant steps which would go a long way to empower people, empower the region. Yes, a big leap forward always starts with 'small' steps.

Slow Cloth

Originally a reaction against fast food, the Slow Movement has positioned itself in opposition to a factory approach to life; an approach that drains human work of much of its worth and meaning. It has since expanded to challenge thinking on everything from tourism to clothing.

The Slow Cloth movement is taking hold. Around the world, there are people simultaneously developing their own concepts and communi ties of Slow Cloth. The common thread is a worldview that includes technology but is not limited to it;

Forthcoming VKIC publications : * Eastern India-Iconographic Details * Traditional Systems of the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh

that opts for creativity over efficiency; and that considers time RECENTLY RELEASED VKIC PUBLICATIONS: and how we can approach things with a healthy and human pace. Heritage of Kamakhya on the Nilachala Hill

Elaine Lipson identifies certain principles or qualities of Slow Cloth:

• It has the possibility of joy in the process. In other words, the journey matters as much as the destination

• It offers the quality of meditation or contemplation in the process

• It involves skill and has the possibility of mastery

• It acknowledges the rich diversity and multicultural history of textile art

• It honours its teachers and lineage even in its most contemporary expressions

• It is thoughtful in its use of materials and respects their source.

• It supports community by sharing knowledge and respecting relationships

• It is expressive of individuals and/or cultures. The human creative force is reflected and evident in the work

Koro - New Language discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Linguists Gregory Anderson of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, David Harrison of Oregon's Living Tongues Institute and Canesh Murmu of Ranchi University, India - all a part of the National Geographic Society's Enduring Voices Project, reported the existence of a new language in Arunachal Pradesh in 2008.

The language belonging to the Tibeto-Burman linguistic family are spoken by the Koro community located in the West and East Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. Having a population of around 800-1200, the Koros are a sub-tribe of the Aka tribe who number about 10,000. Even though these communities co-exist, it was found that linguistically Koro differed greatly from Aka in respect of the inventory of sounds, the way sounds combine to form words, and the way words and sentences are built. They have a distinct grammar. For instance, the Aka word for mountain is "phu" while the Koro word is "nggo"

But interestingly, the Koros and the Akas deny any difference between them. They maintain that both the languages are the same except for a small variation in dialect. The coexistence of two different languages between two integrated groups that do not acknowledge an ethnic difference is very unusual.

We are born to do great work in Bharat

- Swami Vivekananda

Calling healthy, selfless, educated, young men and women under 30 years of age (relaxable), free from family responsibilities, to join as Jeevan Vrati / Seoa Vrati to fulfil this dream of Swami T/ivekananda. Join Vivekananda Kendra, a Spiritually-Oriented Service Mission, Founded by Mananeeya Eknathji Ranade in 1972. It is not a career but aMission.

For more details

Contact any braneh centre of Vivekananda Kendra Or write with self-addressed stamped envelope to

The General Secretary Vivekananda Kendra Vivekanandapurarn, Kanyakumari - 629 702

Represented as a svayambhu atop the Nilachala Hill in Guwahati, Assam, Kamakhya is one of the most important of the 51 Shakti Pithas. In the late 1990s VKIC's research team asked itself a question - 'What draws thousands of people to the Kamakhya throughout the year, especially during the Ambuvachi Mela?'.

Thus began the inquiry that went through various phases of research: data collection on rituals observed at the Kamakhya, documentation of the Ambuvachi and Deodhani mela, interaction with people associated with the Kamakhya -pandas and pilgrims, tourists and traders - as well as interaction with people of various communities from the hills and the plains. All this led to the present book, The Heritage of Kamakhya on the Nilachala Hill -an outcome of the painstaking endeavour of the VKIC Research Team .. The chapters relate its history, both oral and recorded, its rites and rituals, fairs and festivals, art and architecture, inscriptions and sculpture, all of which prove that while the tradition of worship to Her is itself not datable, Kamakhya has been and continues to be a unifying symbol in the religio-culturallife of various communities and traditions. Moreover, VKIC's study indicates an abiding relationship amongst dwellers of the forests, hills, villages and cities. This symbiotic relationship of the socio-cultural continuum indicates that in many respects Mother Kamakhya is the Mother of us all.

The Sattra Institution of Assam- An Overview

I-IERITAGEOF

The Sattra institution, as envisioned by Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449- 1568 AD) - preacher, poet, composer, playwright, artist, philosopher and reformer, is a unique spirituo-religious and cultural institution of Assam.

In order to understand and appreciate the inherent strength and potential of the Sattra for a proactive role in a multi-dimensional society, the VKIC took up a survey of the Sattras of Assam in 2007-08. Data for this work was collected from a total of 450 Sattras in two stages. In the first stage, field visits were made to 71 Sattras spread throughout Assam. It was an attempt to study the Sattras not only as an independent entity but also as a socio-economically and culturally relevant unit in the society. This helped build a profile of about the establishment of each Sattra- its management and functioning and also its present socia-cultural activities. The perspective of a cross-section of

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Heritage of Kamakhya on the Nilachala Hill Price Paperback t 300/- Hard Bound t 450/-

RECENTLY PUBLISHED

The Sattra Institution of Assam- An Overview Price'{ 100/-

the society on various aspects concerning the Sattras was also taken. In the second stage, a postal survey including a structured questionnaire was sent to 804 Sattras, out of which 379 Sattras responded. The present book The Sattra Institution of Assam- An Overview is an outcome of this endeavour.

Golden Vine of Ri Hynfiiewtrep - the Khasi Heritage Foreword

This is the story of the people of the land of the Hynfuewtrep who, by divine will, descended down the golden vine to Earth and made it their home. These are the Khasis of today's Meghalaya. The narrative begins, as it were, at the very beginning when Dorbar-Blei, the Divine Council heard the pleas of Mother Earth to send God's most beloved creations to her for them to live with other human communities. It then takes the reader through an account of the Khasi way of life with its religious and moral underpinnings, its traditions of crafts, architecture, music and dance, sports and political organization, to the Khasis of post-independent India.

It is not at all easy to put across in a language other than one's own, ideas which form the particular and palpable basis of a culture's life. Sumar Sing Sawian has overcome the difficulties of linguistic barrier with much sensitivity and ease. His book carries forward with aplomb the tradition set by people like Babu [eebon Roy, Ba Kympham Sing, Ba Hipshon Roy, Ba Token Rymbai and others.

The Khasis are one among multitude of small communities in India who have a language of their own which is not a dialect of any other language, and a profound belief in the moral basis of human life. This is most effectively conveyed by the author's lucid narrative. The ethical environment of today's globalised world is, in many ways, quite the opposite of the traditional moral environment of the Khasis, The moral world of the Khasis can provide a critical and constructive perspective on modernity and its globalised utility driven moral outlook. Sumar Sing's work is, therefore, an important contribution not only to our understanding of the Khasi way of life but also to a critical reviewing of modernity and its values.

The book will be of interest not only to the general reader but also to researchers with a variety of interests- historical, sociological, aesthetic and philosophical. It is undoubtedly among the most authentic accounts of an ancient and yet living tradition.

Sujata Miri

Former Head, Dept. of Philosophy and Dean, School of Humanities and Education, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong

Published by :

The S€cretary, VKIC, Guwahati-l Editorial Team:

Smti Jule Barooah, Sri Pranjit Sutradhar, Sri Hernan Deka & Kum Sujatha Nayak

Quest- [Volume IV No.2] the Research Journal of VKIC. Theme: Freedom Movement- Role of the Northeast.

Following the trend of colonial historiography, the role of the Northeast in India's struggle for independence often remains unsung and unheard of by most including many from the Northeast itself. The regional histories of long and stubborn resistance, the numerous victories and the fact that our people did not accept foreign rule meekly were either not projected or were distorted, at times, within the broad framework of Indian history.

The present volume of Quest tries to provide the space to place before a wide readership the role of the Northeast India in the Freedom Movement and gives the same a legitimate place in the freedom struggle of our country.

~ The .Journal of

~' vivekanand a Kendra lnstttute QI Culture

The scholars who contributed to this volume include Prof.

Lokesh Chandra, Shri Dharampal, Shri Ram Swarup, Lt. Gen (Retd.) S.K.Sinha, Dr. Sanjib Kumar Borkakati, Dr. Sagar Barua, Shri Karunamay Sinha, Dr. Rajib Handique, Prof. G.P Singh, Dr. Sanjeeb Kakaty, Dr. Jolly Saikia Gogoi, Dr. Ramesh Buragohain, Shri Lanbilung Gonmei, Dr. Sukanya Sharma and Kum. Rasmirekha Sarma.

Living in Harmony - Second Impression

This is the reprint of the Sixth Vedanta Vachaspati Radha Nath Phukan Memorial Lecture delivered by Swami Mitranandaji, Director, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra in 2006. The fact that a reprint was called for indicates that Swarniji's analysis of the nature

of civilizational conflict and the way to resolve it harmoniously delivered in a lucid style answers a deep yeaming for conflict -resolution mechanisms.

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From:

Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Riverside, Uzan Bazar, M.e. Road, Guwahati-781001. Ph. 0361-2510594, 2548862. EMail: vkicne@g111ail.co111

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