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Sanjib K. Baruah is NOT Prof Sanjib Baruah of Bard College. He is a reporter . He also has reported several times on Shankar Borua ( who trained under Jahnu Baruah) and his If God Be With Us. c-da >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 >>
