the northeast notebook

Majuli magic on microfilmSCHOLARS will soon have access to 16th century scriptures written on tree barks in various Vaishnavite satras or mo...

Majuli magic on microfilm

SCHOLARS will soon have access to 16th century scriptures written on tree barks in various Vaishnavite satras or monasteries in Majuli8212;the world8217;s largest river island. The Assam State Archives has initiated a process to put these scriptures on microfilm. Over 1,100 pages have been already microfilmed.

Bishnupriyas speak out

THE Bishnupriya, a community that8217;s said to have migrated several centuries ago from erstwhile East Bengal into various northeastern states, has demanded its language be included in the Sixth Schedule.

While the Assam government had recognized the language for primary education in 1983, the decision was kept in abeyance after the Manipur government protested the Bishnupriya8217;s using the prefix Manipur with its nomenclature.

Digital in Manipur

MORE and more Manipuri filmmakers are opting for the digital format. While making a feature film in Manipur costs at least Rs 30 lakh, digital films can be made in just Rs 1 lakh. Several Manipuris have earned a name for themselves in the national and international arena, with Aribam Shyam Sharma, the most celebrated Manipuri filmmaker already clinching several awards in the last 25 years.

The church and state

THE Meghalaya government has sought the help of the Church to persuade various militant groups in the state to agree for negotiations. Chief Minister D D Lapang who heads the Congress-led coalition government in the state, described this as a 8216;8216;religio-political8217;8217; step that could convince the rebels to come forward for talks. The Church has been playing a crucial role in the Nagaland peace process by helping create a congenial atmosphere.

Mizoram forces on Myanmar border

THE Mizoram government has deployed additional police forces along the Indo-Myanmar boundary in the state in order to prevent infiltration from across the border. Mizoram, that has a large number of Myanmarese people living illegally in the state, has pushed back over 4,000 of them in the past three weeks following the rape of a local girl, allegedly by one such infiltrator in the state capital.

Naga no to Bangladeshis

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WORRIED that the growing presence of Bangladeshi infiltrators could put many local youth out of jobs, the Naga Students8217; Federation NSF has asked the Nagas not to patronize them even if they offered cheap labour.

The student body has also issued a warning to Nagas against marrying Bangladeshi girls, threatening excommunication.