Thank you for forwarding this short but insightful write-up - that shares the exact thougt of many of us. I haven't had the chance to see any of Jahnu Barua's movies, will make it a point to see them from now on, beginning with 'Xagoroloi Bahu dur' (this was his too(?) - meant to see this for many years, but..).
Is the writer Prof. Barua from the net? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Prafulla Barooah" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 6:44 AM Subject: Intellectuals, leaders have failed the northeast: Barua > Intellectuals, leaders have failed the northeast: Barua > Sanjib K. Baruah, Indo-Asian News Service > New Delhi, > > Intellectuals of the northeast have failed the people and the region has > suffered a ebilitating "leadership vacuum", rues noted Assamese filmmaker > Jahnu Barua. > > "Intellectuals in the northeastern region have failed in their duty. Our > present mess is a result. Nor does the prevailing atmosphere in the region > allow intellectuals to flourish," Barua, who was in the capital for the > screening of his latest film "Konikar Ramdhenu (Ride on the Rainbow)", told > IANS. > > Barua, who has made nine feature films with strong social messages, has won > critical acclaim worldwide. > > A graduate of Pune's Film and Television Institute of India, before making > his first feature film in 1983 Barua worked in the Indian Space Research > Organisation (ISRO) and made educational programmes for television. > > "There has been a leadership vacuum for the last two decades. The impact has > been particularly devastating on children of the region. They are a confused > lot and have no objective plans for the future. And there is a serious lack > of communication between the generations. > > "There is no one that the people can look up to for guidance. Normally the > leadership of one great leader provides inspiration to the people for at > least 50 years. Gujarat had one Vallabhbhai Patel and look at the progress > it has made," said Barua. > > According to him, the biggest failing of intellectuals and leaders in Assam > had been the inability to foresee and act upon the impending fragmentation > of undivided Assam into several states. > > Asked on what he would most like to make films, Barua responded: "I would > like to make endless number of films on Assam and the northeast to keep on > reminding the rest of the world that we also exist." > > Barua said: "The state establishment and its paraphernalia have also been > involved in systematically blocking the lessons provided by the unique > history of the region. On the other hand we have become ruthless in > disregarding our past. That deprives us of a solid base to grow and > flourish. > > "The northeast is rich in forest resources, oil, coal and tea. Not a single > schoolbook provides lessons on these. We should inspire the young and teach > them the knowledge of the land and the surroundings. There is a systematic > ploy to deprive us of our knowledge." > > On the erosion of tradition and cherished values, the filmmaker said: "These > values are very important to build up the character of a race. On the > contrary, we have learnt to disrespect ourselves. We have fallen in our own > eyes. And that is the beginning of the end. > > "Our condition now is like a tree without roots and all remedies are being > addressed to the outer structure without watering the roots." > > Asked about the choice of integrating with the cultural and social ethos of > the rest of India, he said: "Society evolves on the basis of natural > surroundings and environment. If a group of Assamese people goes to Canada, > their behaviour, terminology, way of life will differ in accordance with the > surroundings there. > > "If New Delhi says the northeast has to get integrated with the rest of the > country then it is something very wrong. This is not the way to function." > > The seven northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, > Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura -- are home to about 30 guerrilla > outfits that mount hit-and-run attacks on the Indian security forces and > other state symbols. > > Their demands vary from secession to greater autonomy. The violence has left > about 75,000 people dead over the past five decades. > > On the role and relevance of violence, Barua said: "Violence has its own > role to play. It is an indispensable part of human society. There is no end > to it. > > "But efforts should be made to reduce and minimise it. And instruments of > violence should never be allowed to replace human conscience." > > On his work, Barua said: "My films are my personal reactions to the social > changes taking place over the region. Today very few people speak for > society. Compared to other states, the changes in the northeast have been > very unfortunate. Based on my own observations, I try to capture those > events in my films. > > "Trying to know and understand the northeast is a fashion nowadays. But from > my personal experience, I have found very few genuinely interested in the > welfare of the northeast." > > Understated humour has been one of the hallmarks of Barua's films. "Humour > is a part of life," he said. "It is spontaneous. It is not intentional or > meant to provide light moments. It is in the natural course of events that > humour surfaces. That is what I try to capture on reel." > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: > http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx >
