June 2017 - Volume 9 Issue 6 Rs 15

Where the lives of people i n s i d e depend on the mahua

As the mahua trees flower less and less, the villagers of Odisha’s Nuapada District He created a forest and find it hard to make ends meet. These blooms affect not only day-to-day life, but also much more, all from a milestone events such as marriage and house construction. A fall in yield could mean wasteland 2 shortage of food, less money to spend on health, deferring of marriages, etc ajit panda, Bhubaneswar he mahua (Madhuca of less than a quintal per family other marriage expenses. “Sadly, longifolia, an Indian last year and this year it has the income from mahua has not Ttropical tree found largely further dwindled. exceeded Rs 5000 in the last two in the Central and North Indian “There is no certainty these years,” she adds. Holding out against plains and forests) blossom fills days due to weather changes The families in Bhaisadani change in the Land rural households in Nuapada from year to year and from Village say that each of them earn of the High Passes 3 District of Odisha with smiles. place to place. The soil quality between Rs 25000 and Rs 30000 Replete with medicinal pro- also differs,” says Budhuram. a year from forest products, if perties, it is an assured source “Even within a radius of 10 to the yield is good. This help them of livelihood for thousands of 15 km, the yield has differed to meet expenses for marriage, people and helps them meet this year,” he adds, citing the house construction and also, of basic needs, both short-term and example of Kathfar Village ten late, the expense of educating long-term. The flip side is, it is km from Bhainsadani, where their children. an uncertain source of income. the flower yield has suffered “We earned Rs 32000 from The caprices of the weather and badly. mahua and chahar two years ago. An outstanding the vagaries of the price can both “Lightning at the time of We spent Rs 6000 on our son’s A woman in the Sunabeda puppeteer who keeps affect the fortunes of those who flowering is one of the main college admission and the rest for plateau collecting mahua, depend on the forest wealth. causes of drastic reduction in completing construction of our close to a tiger reserve. entertaining 4 Budhuram and Subhadra yield this year in our village,” house,” says Malati Majhi. She Paharia of Bhainsadani Village says Turu Majhi of Karandaba was hoping for a good income of Khariar Block have a daughter Village of Khariar Block. from agriculture and forest and a son. Two years ago, they A fall in yield means a produce the following year to were able to earn Rs 10000 from lot of things to the people – manage the family budget. But three quintals of flowers and 50 shortage of food, less money the failure of crops coupled with kg of fruit. However, the income to spend on health, deferring poor income from forest produce AP Photos: has been dwindling. Last year of marriages, etc. Karuna and made life difficult. A basket of mahua flowers. Embodying hope while the yield was only 25 kg, says her husband Hirasing Majhi “The mahua crop had failed last raising questions about Subhadra. live in Bhainsadani with their year, so I hoped that there would will save me from that loan rehabilitation 5 In Kathfar Village of three children. One of their be a good crop this time, but I was burden,” he says. Bhaisadani Gram Panchayat, daughters got married last year. disappointed again,” says Dhanu Forest officials say the reduced there are 170 households. Each “I gave her half a bhari (unit Majhi. The situation necessitated yield is due to a parasitic household collected two to three of weight) of gold ornaments, the postponement of the marriage plant (Madang). However, quintals of flowers on an average as the yield from mahua was of a daughter of the family. She the villagers do not agree. two years ago, working out to a good two years ago,” says had to be sent to Hyderabad to “Reduction in flowering is seen total of around 500 quintals for Karuna. Out of the Rs 45500 work in a brick kiln. in almost all trees,” they say. the whole village. The earning that they got from mahua and In most parts of Nuapada Ashish Behera, the Bramhapur was between Rs 6000 and some other forest products, Rs District, families have had to take District Forest officer, says that Now, off-grid solar power Rs 7000 per family. But the 13000 was spent on jewellery private loans at exorbitant rates the drastic reduction in flowering for rural communities 6 collection reduced to an average and the rest went towards of interest to meet the expenses of mahua in the last two years of marriage and other social might be due to the peak in yield responsibilities. Gauri Chinda of the previous year. A peak year in Kaktiam Village had taken a loan production is always followed of Rs 15000 to meet expenses by a drastic reduction, according related to her daughter’s wedding. to him. The debt remains unpaid even “There is no data with the after two years. She earned only government on production Rs 3000 from her collection of of mahua after it was handed How the aboriginals mahua last year and got even less over to the panchayats, so it here have hopelessly this year. is difficult to say exactly how lost out 7 Likewise, Sridhar Paharia bo- much the yield has fallen, and rrowed Rs 10000 to meet the what the impact on people is. expenses of nak dand, which But it can be safely said that the amounts to a fine. His son had economy of a forest dweller is Subscribe to eloped with a girl and for social highly affected due to drought,” sanction for the marriage; he had says retired professor and social Making for a picture postcard scene — women in Nangalbod to host a feast for the villagers. worker Fanindam Deo. < Village picking up mahua flowers. “Only a good yield from mahua Rs. 180 for 12 issues 2 June 2017

Focus He created a forest and much more, all from a wasteland For most people in Kolkata, Shantiniketan-Bolpur is a favoured weekend getaway to get close to nature, especially in winter and autumn. Once there, a meal at Vanalaxmi is a must. To the uninitiated, it must sound like another good restaurant to visit on a holiday. One could well classify it as a rustic retreat. But Vanalaxmi is much more than all that rina mukherji, Kolkata labour of love by levels are low and, with most method worked, and soon several someone who was far forests gone, summers hold no trees survived. Subsequent years Aahead of his times, respite for the locals. saw an entire mango orchard of Vanalaxmi is a wasteland- When Niranjanbabu (as he 850 mango trees take shape. In turned-forest patch in is better known) initially came five years time, the orchard had Dwaranda, in Birbhum here in 1961, there was hardly 48 varieties of mangoes growing District, on the Jharkhand- any source of water around, save out of its trees. Subsequent years West Bengal border. Spread a shallow well in the adjoining saw guava, cashew, banana, over 35 bighas (measure of denuded forest land. With trees wood apple (bael), papaya, land), Vanalaxmi Unmesh being cut down by the hundreds, mahua, lemon, pummel and Samiti is a living example of the biodiversity in the area was at many other fruit trees grace the how tending to Mother Nature a terrible low. There was no place Vanalaxmi grounds. can usher in sustainable to live on the land and, hence, Niranjanbabu even defied development and benefit an he put up nearby. Accompanied nature to grow coconut palms on entire community. by his mother, Kohinoor Debi, the premises. Since coconut needs A scion of the royal families Niranjanbabu set out to create a salt and a coastal environment to of Puthia and Mymensingh forest out of nothing. grow, Niranjanbabu would plant (in present-day Bangladesh), In 1964, Niranjanbabu was coconut saplings and sprinkle Fruit trees in the Vanalaxmi forest patch provide a pleasing Niranjan Sanyal was keen joined in his efforts by Dr Parbati salt around them (today, there sight. to build an institution where Bhattacharya from Bolpur, who, as are a sizeable number of palms, the forest-dwelling culture of a medical practitioner attached to each bearing 10 coconuts each). of vegetables such as spinach, ancient Indian ashrams could the primary health centre, felt that In a few years’ time, living potato, cucumber, ash gourd, be replicated. After exploring she could try make a difference to quarters were built and the brinjal, bottle gourd, Colocasia the length and breadth of India the health of the adivasis (tribal core group of Vanalaxmi grew (arvi) several varieties of beans he ultimately settled for the people) of Dwaranda. There larger. By then, it comprised and greens are grown. The patch of land in Dwaranda, in were two others, too, who were Niranjanbabu and his mother, paddy fields also grow several Birbhum. inspired by Niranjanbabu to make Sumitra Sinha and her sister, varieties of rice, besides herbs The property had belonged a difference to society – Sumitra Kanan Pal and her brother, and and legumes. The single water- to a rich Kolkata family, Sinha from Vishwabharati Uni- Mrinal Kanti Pal and his wife. body is home to a dozen ducks and had a derelict house on versity in neighbouring Bolpur, Vanalaxmi, too, widened its and yields a good amount of it. It adjoined the once-lush and Kannan Pal, a trained nurse reach by acquiring 70 bighas fish. Chaupahari Forest, and had from Kundagaon (near Jagdalpur in neighbouring Ramnagar and Around 1990, a bio-digester The slurry from the digester the Ajay River a stone’s in the then undivided Madhya Kamarpara Villages to grow and a biogas plant were set up finds its way as manure into throw away. Once a land Pradesh). They joined Vanalaxmi paddy and mustard in 1967. on the premises to convert the the vegetable patch. of forests, Birbhum, which in a few years. However, the 1970s and ’80s dung from cows into gobar stood for bir (forest), bhum The organisation soon built a saw the organisation face a (dried cow dung used as fuel) Vanalaxmi has also set up (land), had been reduced to shed and acquired a large number tough time. The rise of the gas for cooking. The slurry left guest rooms for all those who a dry, barren region, when of bovine animals. The idea was Naxalite movement in West behind from the process finds would like to soak themselves Niranjanbabu moved in here. not just to tend them for milk, but Bengal spelt political turmoil its way into the vegetable farm in the rural ambience. The rates Neglect and deforestation to use the dung to build up the soil and lawlessness. Cows and and banana grove as manure. are nominal, starting from Rs had reduced the Chaupahari through traditional organic means. buffaloes would get stolen. Fruit Vanalaxmi also processes the 200 for a bed in a dormitory, to forest to a wasteland, with its But Birbhum is a dry region, with a from the trees would disappear fruit and vegetables for its Rs 750 for a two-storey cottage. fauna having been depleted rocky subsoil. The first lot of trees in the night. Unable to manage, orchards into jams, jellies, Today, Vanalaxmi has grown by impoverished tribal people that were planted could hardly “we sold off all our cows and pickles, toffee and candy. Milk into a registered society with as food. Jobs were difficult survive. It had to be a task of trial buffaloes,” Pal’s wife tells me. is processed into ghee. All the 20 permanent staff and another to come by, and migration to and error. “He made the mistake It was only in the 1990s that products are sold from a counter 40 daily wage labourers who urban centres the norm. of planting Banaras mangoes in Vanalaxmi could consolidate on its premises . are involved in a variety of Unlike deltaic West Bengal, the Birbhum soil. Banaras has the itself. Cows were bought The organisation has been activities. Migration to towns Dwaranda in Birbhum is dry advantage of the fertile alluvial again, and the cowshed started running an eatery since 1999, has been checked. and barren. Although rains Ganga-Yamuna doab (tract of land humming with activity. This where home-style Bengali meals Many who had once worked veer around 1400 mm, the lying between two converging time round, though, saw the are served using everything in the cities have now returned rocky terrain does not have rvers). How could that be replicated organisation avoid buffaloes. grown on the premises, ranging home. Haren Pal, for instance, water seep in. Groundwater in this dry, water-scarce land?” “Given the dry nature of this from eggs, fish, fruit, vegetables who worked at odd jobs explains Kannan Pal. land, it was a difficult proposition and milk. Built in the typical in Kolkata, is now back in The second time around, to tend to them, since they rural Bengal-style, with bamboo Dwaranda and maintains the Niranjanbabu and his team require a lot of water to soak windows, with tiled roofs lined gardens and cowshed here. decided to first build up the soil themselves in. Besides, they are with cane and bamboo, and Deepa Soren and Lakhi Hansda, with manure, neem husk, mustard temperamentally very different alpona (colourful motifs)- too, have returned to work on husk and dung. Once the soil was from cows,” Sumita Sinha tells bordered tables, the eatery the vegetable patches and thresh prepared, steps were then taken to me. overlooks a garden full of Dolon paddy. optimise the use of water in the At Vanalaxmi, everything is Champa (flowring plant) and Niranjanbabu is no more, Photos: RM water-scarce region. An earthen grown organically. Optimum hibiscus. neither is his mother. But his Vanalaxmi founder ring was made around each sapling use of water is stressed on. Food is served by young legacy lives on, in the greenery Niranjanbabu to hold the water, and some leaves Grey water is never left to go waitresses dressed up in bright and the beautiful man-made with his mother, were left to rot within to provide the waste; it finds its way to the saris draped in the Bengali forest he has left behind. < Kohinoor Debi. necessary impetus for growth. The vegetable patch where a variety style. June 2017 3 Holding out against change in the Land of the High Passes The bond between farming communities and their land is unmistakable. So is the bond between them and their animals. The dzo is foremost amongst the farm animals that Ladakhis have used over generations. Gradually, modernisation and mechanisation has been eroding the bond. Practices that have sustained cultivation and communities in the harsh terrain are also disappearing. Still there are pockets holding out, retaining old farming practices, which spells hope anzara anjum khan, Leh, Ladakh he breathtaking moun- “The condition of roads leading tainous terrain of to our village at a height of TLadakh is a magnet for 15700 feet, is poor. Why would travellers, nature lovers and I rent a tractor and bring it up? many different kinds of seekers. It produces noise and fumes – Not many though know of the bad for our environment. Much hard life of the farmers there. better to use a dzo.” Cultivation of crops is as much Wangail’s logic eludes many about conserving scare natural others but he is quick to dismiss resources in the icy desert. it as herd mentality. “People just A male hybrid of the yak and imitate other people. If villagers domestic cattle, the dzo (female of Hemis Shukpachan see their is known as dzomo or zhom) neighbouring village using has always been crucial for tractors, they will simply follow agriculture in Ladakh, which at without questioning why,” he 15000 feet and more, is easily remarks, clearly exasperated. one of the coldest and most Wangail is pragmatic, be- daunting regions for farming. longing to a generation that Although the yak is a bigger, has faced the elements, toiling studier animal, locals prefer on the fields with their hands, the dzo. It is more nimble and their animals and some tools. suited to plough the fields. But for Ishay Dorjay, 70, also The vast ice desert lying in a farmer living in Phyang the lap of the Himalayas is an Village, the concerns go beyond ecologically sensitive zone. the pragmatic. People are

For centuries, communities losing their social and cultural AAK Photo: here have stuck to traditional traditions, their connect with the A male hybrid of the yak and domestic cattle, the dzo plays an important role in Ladakh's agricultural practices that land, he believes. “Earlier tilling agriculture. conserve and replenish scarce the land was a way of life for natural resources to maintain people; it sustained them. But tradition alive. It’s like going land,” she says. “Earlier we used in the ocean. They are holding the delicate balance. With now they don’t till at all and this against the tide,” says Dorjay. to be all together. Now see what out in the face of relentless mechanisation creeping in, is sad.” He quickly adds, “But this is modern agriculture has done to change; upholding a throw-back more and more families have Interestingly, Dorjay’s fa- what makes us different.” our social bonding,” she sighs. to the simpler and sustainable been replacing their trusted dzo rm lies adjacent to Sonam The families of Rigzin Dolker’s lament is reflective way of life of yore. There are with the mechanised version Rigzin’s, another old farmer. and Dorjay fully support the of something larger playing some who taking their cue, –the tractor. True, it is faster The neighbours have come partnership and participate itself out in the region. those who are rethinking, others but it also allows rampa (weed to an understanding, a unique vigorously in the common tasks. Communities living in the who have taken a step further to in Ladakhi) to grow unchecked, partnership. They share all the Says Dolkar, 50, “The most highland plateau have combated revert to traditional practices. eating into the space of the tasks on both farms, sticking to important thing is that our bonds the elements by evolving a “This is the second year in a cultivated crop. traditional farming ways. The have become stronger.” Dressed unique way of life based on row when we are using the Ploughing with the dzo on the dzo is central to this. The animal in loose woollen garments, she mutuality. Coming under fire dzo for ploughing. Nor are we other hand allows ample time strikes a lonely but imposing moves about with a spring in today, this is also leading to using chemical fertilisers,” says for uprooting the weeds. There figure in a village where her step “We are happy being traditional agricultural practices a beaming Phungchok Dolma are other glaring disadvantages. mechanisation has been edging together, doing this together.” being abandoned. The earlier from Gangles Village. Wangail in his mid-80s, a it out. “Its very difficult for Being closely bonded system of grinding grains The two families and their farmer in Ullay Village says, us; struggling to keep a dying constitutes the core of Ladakhi preserved nutrients. With dzo in Phyang Village stand society. There is a sharing of mechanised grinding at high out in contrast to the emerging labour, tools and animals to a temperatures, this is being trends in the region. They remarkable degree. This defines destroyed. Organic farming strike a powerful image. The the age-old Bes System where that was the norm is giving way lives they have chosen are community members harvest to increased use of chemical a compelling narrative of the crop on each one’s field in fertilisers and pesticides. contemporary Ladakh – the turn. Collectivisation not only The combined fall-out of change sweeping over the Land makes work easier; it makes for the changes is now visible. of the High Passes and the small cohesion within society. In Phyang, field after field is voice resisting such a change. Slowly, the old culture has emptying out with farmers < been fading out, replaced by increasingly migrating to Leh (Courtesy: Charkha Features. The writer had received the Sanjoy a mechanised, individualised for work. Sonam Rigzin is Ghose Rural Reporting Award for approach to work and social worried. “Now with fields lying 2016-17.) relations. Dolker has been fallow, what are people going to witness to this, “It became each eat after some years? When will one for themselves. Farmers they realise how important it is began to hire Nepali and Bihari to till the land, grow food and labourers from Leh to work on rear livestock.” Photo: CF their fields. After paying them In the churning that is taking Two families with their prized possession - the dzo. The writer they’d hardly save anything place in Ladakh, Sonam Rigzin is third from left. and began losing interest in the and Ishay Dorjay signify a drop 4 June 2017 An outstanding puppeteer who keeps entertaining and educating The Kamala Award for contribution to crafts instituted by The Crafts Council of India in 2000 honours senior craftspersons for their contribution towards the development of traditional craft and training of younger people. One of the senior awardees this year is M.R. Ranganatha Rao from Karnataka. At 85, his eyes light up as he recalls Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay playing a pivotal role in his decision to take up puppetry as a full-time profession, and quitting his government teaching job sreemathy mohan, Chennai .R. Ranganatha Rao enquired about his whereabouts. glove, rod, string and shadow. broke family traditions Rao was forty years old then. Rao’s family specialises in rod Mto teach all aspects of After the talk, he introduced puppetry. The rod puppet is the puppetry and, along with his himself to Chattopadhyay and most difficult to manipulate wife, trained artisans and troupes provided an update about the because they are one of the in puppet-making, script-writing, treasured puppets carved by his largest puppets measuring three music and costume-designing. grandfather. He also spoke to feet tall and weighing about As a child, Ranganatha was her about the traditional art of 15 kilos. The entire movement intrigued to see his grandfather, ‘rod puppets’ of Karnataka. is controlled by two thin rods Narasingha Rao, handling the Chattopadhyay, the re- attached to the two hands of the puppets with such dexterity markable woman who had puppet. The artist also wears which brought them to life, resurrected the disappearing art a circular ring on his head to enthralling the village audiences. craft and theatre forms in India, make flexible manipulations to Though he had a basic training insisted that she be driven to his make life-like movements of the in puppetry in the family, he ancestral home to have a look puppet’s head and body. Not went on to teach History in at his grandfather’s puppets. only that, the feet movements government secondary schools. She took a look at the treasured have to be fluid, mingling with Backed by an academic puppets of his grandfather’s the characters of the story. background in drama and theatre popular Bhama Kalapam. On The traditional art form was and a career as a schoolteacher, the way back, Chattopadhyay kept a secret with an individual it was natural for Ranganatha convinced and encouraged Rao family. They had a unique style Rao to use puppets as a medium to quit his teaching job and of rendition and motion of of expression to teach children take to puppetry as a full-time puppetry, and specialised in a in school. profession. particular mythological theme, Rao vividly recalls the day The word ‘puppet’ in Sanskrit along with lyrics and music. when he attended a talk by is derived from the word putta, The master pulled the strings Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay which is equivalent to putra literally, from composing the when she men- (son). As an art form, puppetry story to writing the dialogues and tioned the is more diverse than painting, setting up the stage, apart from mastery of his sculpture, dance, song or story, carving the wooden puppets and M.R. Ranganatha Rao, and son Chaitra Kumar pose beside an grandfather’s and includes most of them. designing the costumes as well. impressive rod puppet. art form and So, Rao had to equip himself Rao’s grandfather’s puppets with an additional honour's weighed 15 kilos, and to make mythological stories in the art global audiences, Rao was degree in Kannada to script the craft more effective, Rao form always revolve around also associated with the Swiss new plays and songs for conceived new puppets with Lord Krishna, he mentions. Puppet Museum in Fribourg. presenting different puppet indigenous raw material. He used His popular and his personal The Indian giant puppet that stories. different kinds of wood to carve favourite is Krishna Parijatha, he made in Switzerland with Indian puppetry takes the entire puppet. A lighter wood the story of how Krishna locally available material for the one of the four forms – for the body, with the traditional brought the divine flowering 25th anniversary of the museum wood used for the puppet’s face tree of parijatham from heaven was a huge popular attraction. and arms. for his wife Sathyabama. Proudly, Rao introduces “Puppets don’t have legs,” says Meticulously, he explains the his wife, Gayathri. She is the Rao, “the costume or a long skirt three mythological stories – costume and jewellery designer covers the length to give it a full one before and after Krishna for all the characters of the appearance.” Originally when Parijatha, the prior story of puppets. She explains how the the Bommallatam performances Narakasura, and the latter story beautiful jadai alankaram and took place in the open without a of Thulabaara where Rukmini an entire sari is draped fresh for stage, the feet of the puppeteer explains the value of thulasi. each and every performance. would become those of the Clearly, you can see the passion Rao’s puppets are displayed puppet, showing from under in his storytelling. in prominent museums around its long skirt. The storyteller, Starting from the 1970s, Rao the world including the Victoria or Bhagavata, sang throughout and his troupe toured around Albert Museum (UK), Swiss the performance and sat with the country conducting shows, Puppet Museum (Fribourg, the musicians – a drummer, a lecture demonstrations and Switzerland), Tokyo Puppet violinist and a harmonium player workshops to prove that the rod Museum (Japan) and China – behind the stage. Sometimes, puppet could be a wonderful Puppet Musem (Beijing). The the puppeteers themselves medium of entertainment Karnataka State Rajyotsva would speak on behalf of their and education. And went to Award for 2016 and the Kamala puppets. Delhi, too, at the invitation of Award from the Crafts Council Along what has been a Chattopadhyay. In recognition of India this year speak volumes wonderful journey, Rao has built of his work and contribution to about his contribution to the an expert team of performers and rebuild the art form, the Sangeet field of puppetry. singers to make a wholesome Natak Academy conferred Rao Rao's son, Chaitra Kumar, has mini theatre of rod puppets with a national award in 1981. quit his job, like his father, to Photos: SM bound in the ethos of traditional With a series of international continue the heritage art form. < Chaitra Kumar demonstrating rod puppetry. folk music and culture. The tours representing India to M questions aboutrehabilitation Embodying hopewhileraising T as h sho principal, “Students school Srivastava. 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Teacher and students interacting with each other in a classroom. 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While this mostly may seem a step in find engaged the to private or public in sector. They are hope employment miniscule executive can a number only however, education; their complete them of Most students. the of profile NTPC. a by sponsored Indore, in at college Commerce in bachelor’s his pursuing is Nai Rohit called student A colleges. regular into admission gained Several have them year. of a 50 of average an school, the from have out passed students 800 you told nearly are that you changes when gauge can The lip- reading. plain oral or and communication, linguistic basic the through taken earlier were who disabilities, such with children adults. have become more advanced for programmes become education Today, they when children the mainstreaming of question bigger the lies Therein Computers. Basic and Social Sciences Mathematics, Science, sign is notthesameforeveryone.” the language, so the pace of learning comprehending in time individual own their take ts o js te economic the just not It’s English, are taught Subjects Students communicatingwiththeirteacherinsignlanguageataschoolforthedeafanddumb. hl pyhlgs ad school and several psychologist child across spectrums,” says Ruvena Sanyal, disabilities learning with children for easy initiated by these to make things been already have steps while various in well, as educators schools regular special have need to the devised have boards made. several been already which have concessions for schools category, education under special fall the they if even the norm, be should shorter papers question and questions of type suit the students. 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Photos: Asha Kiran < 6 June 2017 Now, off-grid solar power for rural communities Social scientists from universities in the US and Scotland have carried out ground-breaking analysis of the benefits of providing off-grid solar power to rural communities in India lmost a quarter bi- llion people in India al- Aone and about another 600 million in sub-Saharan Africa are without access to electricity because of the high cost of extending the electricity grid to remote, rural places. However, with a rapid decrease in the cost of solar panels, interest has grown in the use of off-grid solar power as an alternative, especially since solar power is cleaner than fossil fuels. The academics worked in partnership with an Indian solar service pro- vider, Mera Gao Power (MGP), to conduct the first randomised Mera Gao Power solar panels in a village in Barabanki A village in Barabanki District. controlled trial designed to District, Uttar Pradesh (picture taken in February 2013). measure the causal effects of installing solar micro-grids in business-driven intervention between the complexity, the made no intervention in the 81 non-electrified villages without any state subsidy can costs and the benefits of these control group. in Barabanki District in Uttar have such a positive effect on the systems. The solar micro-grid offered Pradesh in India. Households quality of lighting in previously Our findings do not imply that a basic level of electricity in the villages previously had non-electrified villages. Because larger systems cannot produce access comprising high-quality no electricity and used simple MGP offers electricity at night, broader socio-economic benefits, domestic lighting (through kerosene lamps to light their the service serves households at but generating such benefits two LED lights) and mobile homes. hours when demand peaks and may require more expensive charging. Information on

“When we visited the villages, electricity access is generally solutions.” fuel expenditures, lighting Photos: University of Glasgow we found that most households the weakest.” The team randomly assigned hours, quality of lighting and The power battery. had no modern lighting at Bayer adds: “At the same 81 small rural habitations into broader socio-economic effects all,” Johannes Urpelainen from time, the lack of broader effects, treatment and control groups. was collected from 1281 (Courtesy: Communications and In the treatment groups, MGP Public Affairs Office, University Columbia University notes. aside from better lighting and households surveyed on three of Glasgow. Funding for the study “These villages were in the dark lower kerosene expenditures, approached villagers and offered occasions over a period of more was provided by the India Country after sunset because India’s rural underscores the limits of to set up a solar micro-grid if than a year: prior to treatment, Programme of the International electrification programme had minimal solar micro-grids. at least 10 households within half a year after treatment, and Growth Centre, the Tata Centre the village subscribed at the for Technology and Design at not reached them.” Electrification programmes that one year after treatment. < the Massachusetts Institute of The team of four academics rely on off-grid technologies monthly per-household cost of Technology, and Smart Power India.) from the University of must consider the trade-offs 100 rupees (£1.21/$1.67). MGP Pittsburgh, New York University and Columbia University in the US, and the University of Glasgow in Scotland, found that the villagers spent considerably Working hand-in-hand for better nutrition less money in buying kerosene for lighting their homes after subscribing to the MGP service: MSSRF and UNICEF join hands in Tamil Nadu to create a Nutrition Alliance with the however, they also found no aim of making a positive impact on the state’s nutrition scenario evidence of broader socio- economic impacts on household An initiative to bring together different stakeholders across Tamil Nadu to ensure savings, expenditures, local better nutrition has been launched by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation business creation, how much (MSSRF) in partnership with UNICEF. Called the Tamil Nadu Nutrition Alliance, the time women spent on productive effort aims to bring synergy on nutrition efforts across the state, working together work, or children’s use of with the government. lighting to study. “There is enough and more evidence on how little awareness there is on nutrition “MGP's customers replaced and how there are many misconceptions,” said Job Zachariah, chief of Office, kerosene lamps with solar UNICEF, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, at the event organised to kickstart the initiative. He lighting, but they didn't save

spoke of how nutrition as an issue could not be considered in isolation. “Although Photo: MSSRF money or find new ways to earn Tamil Nadu is a leader in social development indicators, in nutrition over 50 per it,” says Patrick Bayer from the cent of the population is still anaemic and there is a long way to go,” he pointed B. Jayashree (right), head, Media University of Glasgow. “Basic out. Resource Centre, MSSRF, briefs a group energy access, which essentially Prof M.S. Swaminathan, founder-chairman, MSSRF, said the timely alliance could of participants at the event. provides bright lights and mobile create a major change in the nutrition scenario in Tamil Nadu. “Agriculture, nutrition and health form a triumvirate,” he said, charging, was not enough to adding, “Without one, the others would be affected. Nutrition, therefore, needs a coalition of different partners and institutions.” unlock economic opportunity.” The logo of the alliance – a basket of healthy food and an emerging network – was formally launched on the occasion. According to Michaël Representatives from the state Planning Commission, Department of Social Welfare, ICDS and Health, research institutions, Aklin from the University NGOs, nutritionists and community-based organisations participated in the meeting. During the day-long discussions, participants of Pittsburgh, “the findings provided their suggestions and inputs for taking the alliance forward. Darez Ahamed, mission director, Tamil Nadu, National underscore both the potential Health Mission, also participated. < and limitations of providing minimal electricity access through off-grid solar power. It is notable that an inexpensive, June 2017 7

A Journal of How the aboriginals here Press Institute of India Research Institute for Newspaper Development Second Main Road, Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 Tel: 044-2254 2344 Telefax: 044-2254 2323 have hopelessly lost out www.pressinstitute.in Director & Editor As names go, The Head Hunter is something of a misnomer. The feature film is neither Sashi Nair [email protected] about recruiting ace employees for the corporate world nor about the culture of the Assistant Editor small tribe in Arunachal Pradesh which was once defined by its practice of considering Susan Philip

the heads of the humans it hunted and killed as trophies. Rather, the film is a scathingly Assistant Manager critical celluloid essay on the skewed development planning that takes a toll not only & Editorial Coordinator R. Suseela on the life of a particular individual, but of an entire community [email protected] Kolkata Design and Layout shoma a. chatTerji, Seetha Ramesh ow a small tribe in Arunachal Pradesh Senior Manager - Accounts Hhas, by deliberate & Administration design, been destroyed by the N. Subramanian establishment is what The Head [email protected] Hunter, an outstanding film, portrays. While doing research Manager - Advertising, for this article on the film, this Administration writer discovered that almost all & Library Services R. Geetha the material available about the [email protected] tribe was localised and focussed on their cultural practices, Office Assistant highlighting their practice of B. Rajendran hunting human beings with bows and arrows, as well as the art of tattoos that affirms the The Press Institute of India does not take membership of the tribal people responsibility for returning unsolicited material. It may not always be possible within their community. There to reply to senders of unsolicited was little or no information material. Opinions expressed in this available about the plundering publication do not necessarily reflect of entire communities by the the views of the editor or publisher. establishment. Nilanjan Dutta’s An eye-catching visual from The Head Hunter. The Head Hunter fills that even when one is rooted gave certain of his own promotion. The Every effort has been taken to assure vacuum. terrain. The crew had to cross that the accuracy of information Through the story of the leader birth to The Head Hunter,” he role was assayed by Mrigendra a river every morning and walk contained in this publication is based says. Konwar, an Assamese actor, four kilometres to reach the core on reliable sources. All trademarks and of a particular tribe, from whom trade names mentioned in this magazine the film gets its title, The Head The cinema of Ritwik Ghatak, who made the effort to learn the of the forest. They had to be Nagisha Oshima and Jean Luc Wancho language. sure to be back before sundown, belong to their respective owners. In Hunter describes how the culture, case of error editor/publisher shall not food, lifestyle, everything that Goddard have influenced Dutta The Head Hunter also portrays because the forest is home to be liable for any loss or prejudice caused deeply because he feels that they how mainstream society reduces a lot of wildlife, some of them to the reader. The publisher reserves the defines the tribe, were destroyed copyright of the materials published in because of the compulsion to deal with the constant question the half-naked Apu to a joke as dangerous to man. of politics, identity and land. he wanders the streets of the city “The location shooting within the magazine. No part of the articles or fulfil official targets such as photographs can be reproduced without I feel deeply drawn to films building a highway, resulting looking for food. Mainstream the city was relatively smooth the prior permission of the publisher. in the elimination of the tribe’s on human existence vis-a-vis society does not understand, or except that it was freezing cold All disputes will be subjected to the jurisdiction of Chennai only. traditional living spaces forever. the politics of the state. “The want to understand, his needs, and my main actor, Apu, had to Dutta says his trigger for Head Hunter is an allegorical his language, his culture. be almost without clothes for the film about the mainstream Apu does not understand making films was the feeling role. For one scene, the whole Advertisement Tariff that though his roots are firmly consumerist approach of trying currency notes. The waiter at the team, me included, had to take established in Nagaon where to create one world order and hotel cheats him over a packet of off most of our clothes at minus sense of morality. It is also cigarettes; a street fruit vendor four degrees to inspire and Full Page: B&W: Rs. 5,000 he was born and bred, it is an Colour: Rs. 10,000 ongoing struggle to be accepted about the helplessness of the cheats him over a bunch of support Apu,” says Dutta. The as an Assamese and integrated aboriginals, especially the ones bananas. And when he is dropped film reveals, layer by slow by within the Assamese community. who still believe in their culture back at the point from where he layer, the filmmaker’s complete Half Page: B&W: Rs. 3,000 “The constant question of not and ethos but are constantly was picked up, Old Man Apu familiarity with his subject and Colour: Rs. 5,000 being an Assamese bothered challenged by the changing cannot get his bearings in his new also his deep concern for the me a lot and this somehow spilt times,” Dutta says. surroundings. He finds himself people represented. Mechanical Details Head-hunting was banned in at the side of the new highway, Dutta, a graduate of FTII (Film over into my films. The critical Bleed : 254 mm x 355 mm question of feeling uprooted the 1900s. The impoverished with trucks and cars speeding and Television Institute), Pune, and desperate Wancho Tribe past him, unceremoniously is currently associate professor has been slowly vanishing. The interrupting his prayers to his of film editing and academic Material can be sent by email to person who betrays the trust of god, using stones and pebbles. It [email protected] or by coordinator at the institute. The CD to our address given above the head hunter in the film was is a moving end to a sad story Head Hunter, his second feature himself once a member of the that mirrors life. film, was screened at the Mumbai tribe, but moved out into the Old Man Apu is brilliantly International Film Festival, Annual Subscription mainstream after acquiring an portrayed by Nokshaa Saham, the 46th International Film education. He is the only one who is not a professional Festival of India, the Bengaluru 12 Issues Rs. 180 among the ‘development team’ actor. The film was shot in the International Film Festival and 36 Issues Rs. 500 who can communicate with Old Nameri National Tiger Reserve the Canada International Film Man Apu. He uses the ability Forest, located at the border of Please note that the cheque or Festival in Vancouver. His first demand draft or at par cheque not to safeguard the community Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, film, a documentary called payable in Chennai, for the and its ethos, but to ensure that and also in the Bomdilla and Bhanga Ghara, won the National subscription amount should the construction of the road, part Tawang regions of Arunachal. Award in 2009. < be drawn in the name of Press Photos: BIFF / ND of a government plan, was not The filmmaking process was in Institute of India ONLY and NOT Nilanjan Dutta. held up or blocked, thus making itself a journey into unknown in the name of the Grassroots.

Published by Sashi Nair on behalf of The Press Institute of India - Research Institute for Newspaper Development, RIND Premises, Second Main Road, Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 and printed by V. Manivannan at R.V. Printers, No.1, 127 Lattice Bridge Road, Adayar, Chennai 600 020. Editor: Sashi Nair 8 Registered with The Registrar of Newspapers for India under TNENG/2009/27557