SAMVAAD FELLOWSHIP Profile of Fellows (2017 – 2019) 1 Snapshot of Fellow profiles from 2017 - 2019 Batch Name Tribe State Brief Profile Project Preservation of Betta Kurumba language through developing scripts, 2017 Mr Krishnan Betta Kurumba Kerala Researcher on tribal language primers, dictionaries and magazines MA Hindi, experience as radio consultant and freelance document and Preservation of Chaudhari language through developing scripts, 2017 Mr Vimal Bhai Chaudhry Chaudhari Gujarat report writer for an NGO, author of book on folk stories of Chaudhari tribe primers, dictionaries and magazines Preservation of Wancho language through developing scripts, primers, 2017 Mr Banwang Losu Wancho Arunachal Pradesh BA Social Science, pursuing MA in Linguistics, worked in govt schools dictionaries and magazines Revival of Morung culture in Kiphire area, Nagaland for resolving 2018 Ms. Sumiho Aye Sumi Naga Nagaland MBA Tourism, Skill Coordinator in Kiphire District Collector Office conflict among antagonistic tribes 2018 Mr. Bosco Kashung. T Maram Naga Manipur BSc Life Sciences, President (Maram Student;s Union), Entrepreneur Revival of the practice of Maram Naga Morung life, Manipur Conservation of indigenous practice of salt harvesting in Kiphire 2018 Mr. P. Achumse Sangtam Sangtam Nagaland Lawyer and advisor to Singti Area Student Union, journalist district, Nagaland Preservation and Promotion of Jingrwai Iawbei at Kongthong Village, 2018 Mr. Rothell Khongsit Khasi Meghalaya Former govt servant, Entrepreneur Meghalaya MA Political Science, employed in NGO working for conservation of Preservation and promotion of Oraon Art of Chhatisgarh, Odisha, MP, 2018 Ms. Sumanti Devi Oraon Madhya Pradesh tribes and tribal art Jharkhand PhD, work experience with NGO Bhasha, set up NGO Adivasi Sahitya 2018 Dr. Jitendra Vasava Vasava Gujarat Documentation of Dehvali Bhil oral folktales, Gujarat Academy working on tribal culture Preservation and revival of the vanished language of the Kharam 2018 Mr. Rangla Adam Kharam Kharam Naga Manipur MA Social Work, UGC-Net JRF, Secretary Grace Development Society Tribe of Manipur MA Political Science, BEd Family Counselling, founder of NGO on Conservation of traditional dance and songs of the Mavilan tribe - 2019 Ms Girija C C Mavilan Kerala women empowerment & education of all tribal communities in Kerala Gothra Smrithi Revival of cultural practices and rituals; PURTI - Preserving & Unique 2019 Mr Deepan Digal Kandha Odisha MA Social Science Refinement of Tribal Institutions 2019 Ms Chalak Lowang Nocte Arunachal Pradesh MA, M.Phil, pursuing PhD, research assistant for various projects Documentation of Khappa Folksong- the lifeline of the Nocte tribe 2019 Mr Payam Rajendra Prasad Koya Telangana Tribal social activist, Entrepreneur Revival of traditional food habits of Koya Tribals Revival of endangered musical instruments thus retain cultural 2019 Mr DJ Haokip Kuki Manipur MA Social Work heritage of Kuki tribe MA Social Work, District Youth Coordinator for United Nations Volunteers 2019 Mr Ng Rameson Monsang Monsang Manipur Conservation of the traditional customs and folklores of Monsang tribe (Strengthening NSS & NYKS) 2 Krishnan I Betta Kurumba tribe, Kerala 2017 Fellow Mr Krishnan from Betta Kurumba tribe from Waynad, is an independent researcher on tribal language and culture. Working rigorously towards this cause, Mr Krishnan was awarded the Fellowship in the year 2017, for preservation of Betta Kurumba language through developing scripts, primers, dictionaries and magazines, that capture folktales and other forms of expression of the language to increase the scope of revival of the tribe’s culture. 3 Vimal Bhai Chaudhry I Chaudhry Tribe, Gujarat 2017 Fellow Vimal is an MA in Hindi Language from South Gujarat University and is currently pursuing PhD in Hindi from Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat. He has worked as a radio consultant for 4 years in community radio in Tapi District and as a freelance document and report writer for an NGO named Charkha Development Network. His interest area is research and promotion of tribal language and literature. He has also published a book in Chaudhari and Gujarati language, featuring folk-stories of Chaudhari tribe. With the help of the Samvaad Fellowship, he has taken up a project on developing a dictionary on the Chaudhari language. Along with that, he is also aiming to develop Chaudhari language primer for primary school children and a book on a collection of folklores. He wants to dedicate his future in undertaking research and documentation on Chaudhari tradition and culture, as well as promote the latter among youngsters. 4 Banwang Losu I Wancho tribe, Arunachal Pradesh 2017 Fellow Banwang is a BA in Social Science from the Government College of Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. He has spent 16 years as a teacher in state government schools. Currently he is pursuing MA Linguistics from Deccan College, Pune to further strengthen promotion of Wancho language. Banwang is pursuing his dream to conserve the Wancho language, with the help of an an NGO named Wancho Literary Mission, which teaches the language in government schools. Banwang has a number of publications on the Wancho language to his name. He has also showcased his work in a number of national and international forums. Through his Fellowship, he has developed a primer and workbook on the Wancho language and promoted them for inclusion in state government schools curriculum. Banwang has deployed his own resources for his research work and also been the recipient of number from various government and non-government organizations including this Fellowship. Banwang has been the recipient of several awards including, the 1st North-East Unsung Heroes Award 2019 and the awarded by Red Carpet Social Award Team. 5 Sumiho Aye I Sumi Naga tribe, Nagaland 2018 Fellow Sumi holds an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior. She has three years of experience in sustainable tourism in the Himalayas, which she discontinued to return to her village to work for the community. Sumi now works as a Skill Coordinator in the office of the District Collector of Kiphire District of Nagaland. She is also working towards registering a society for women called Grassroots Women Empowerment Society. Sumi’s Fellowship work is on reintroducing the Morung, both physically and culturally, and reinventing its unique culture with a modern interpretation, enabling different conflicting tribes in Sitimi, to find solutions for their common issues She enjoys travelling and reading in her spare time. 6 Bosco Kashung T I Maram Naga Tribe, Manipur 2018 Fellow Bosco is a degree holder in Life Sciences and works as the president of the Maram Student’s union. He is working on revitalizing the Morung life as a means for individuals to learn and practice traditions and keeps their heritage alive. To achieve this, he wants to renovate the existing physical Morungs, document traditions linked to the Morung and encourage youth of the village to put Morung to use. This is planned through discussions with the senior community members in the village, to understand the importance and necessity of Morung. Both youths and elders are being motivated to revitalize culture of Morung among the community. Bosco keeps himself abreast of the latest developments across the globe. 7 P Achumse Sangtam I Sangtam Tribe, Nagaland 2018 Fellow Achumse has studied LLB from Guwahati University and is the legal advisor to Singti Area Students’ Union, while he works as a journalist in the “Morung Express”. He leads the apex organization of Sangtam tribe in Nagaland ‘United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP)’ as the General Secretary. His work as a Samvaad Fellow focuses on revival of the unique indigenous salt harvesting technique, research its medicinal properties and also increase the production efficiency of this traditional practice. This is planned through identification, digging and cleaning of abandoned salt barns, knowledge sharing sessions between young entrepreneurs and youth on the traditional salt making process and production of salt cakes by farmers. He has also written an article on this traditional salt harvesting technique to create more awareness among the people. (https://morungexpress.com/sangphure-kiphire- reviving-indigenous-salt-harvesting-after-50-years) 8 Rothell Khongsit I Khasi Tribe, Meghalaya 2018 Fellow Rothell holds a bachelors degree in Marketing. He left his government job to set up entrepreneurial venture of his own on bamboo and honey products. Presently he is the secretary of the Agro Tourism Cooperative Society Ltd, Kongthong and is also the Vice Chairman of the Meghalaya Village Development and Promotion Tourism Cooperative Society Ltd, Shillong. He is also an active member of the socio religious organization of Khasi tribe. Rothell is working on conserving and promoting the Jingrwai Lawbei (tune created by a mother as a name for her child at birth) in Kongthong village, thus protecting the unique cultural practice which is dying in the region and is practiced only in this village of around 700 people. He wants to conserve this practice through an audio video documentation. 9 Sumanti Devi I Oraon Tribe, Madhya Pradesh 2018 Fellow Sumanti Devi has attained her masters degree in Political Science. She has been involved in Oraon paintings and sculpture making since last seven years. She also devotes her time with an NGO which works for the conservation of tribes and tribal art. With this fellowship, Sumanti