The Northeast Exploration

Publisher: KaleidoIndia

Books on the scale of the Northeast Trilogy,a three-volume compendium of photographs and text on what is for most Indians one of the least known and understood parts of our country,cannot be undertaken without both passion and organisation. Dipti Bhalla and Kunal Verma,a wife-husband team,clearly bring to their work an abundance of the former,manifest in virtually every one of the almost 1,300 pages rich with photographs interspersed by informative text and captions. And,by working closely with the Indian Army,which was supportive of the venture from conception,they have had access to the latter. It is inconceivable that this trilogy could have become a reality without both,and to their credit,the authors have done more than justice not only to their vast canvas,but also to the confidence placed in them.

This is a set of coffee table-style books but in a more manageable size,bound in soft covers and printed on excellent paper. The first volume,East of Kangchendzonga,deals with Sikkim,North Bengal,Assam and Meghalaya. The second,Children of the Dawn,is about East Arunachal,Nagaland,Manipur,Tripura and Mizoram. The third,Brahmas Creation,spans the rest of Arunachal. And what a feast for the eyes it is. The scale is magnificent. In page upon page of photographs,the reader is taken on an unforgettable journey,to places both well known and others that most of us didnt know existed. The aerial photography provides a stunning dimension unfamiliar to most of us,and some of the shots are breathtaking. The subject matter is covered in detail and theres so much in these volumes that the reader will remain engrossed and revisit them often. Exquisite or rugged scenic beauty,avian and wild life,nature in abundance,cultures,traditions,history and,above all,people and faces the thousands of photographs speak of hard effort put in over a prolonged period the work was three years in the making and remarkable devotion.

The pictures are punctuated by explanatory text. There are short essays on places of historical relevance parts of the area were the frontline against the Japanese during World War II and battleground in 1962 and 1971,cultural significance and social or anthropological importance. Potted history explains some significant aspects of the region8217;s past. Extended captions describe many,if not most,of the images though with the abundance of pictures,it might have been useful to include a description of each image. The maps at the end are good,but of relatively small scale; sometimes one is left wondering where a particular place or vantage point is precisely. Still,these are small quibbles compared to the impact of the work as a whole. Around 240 chapters,each devoted to a place or an aspect or a tribe or tradition an unprecedented wealth of images and information.

Kunal Verma and Dipti Bhalla are writers,filmmakers and photographers,whose relationship with the northeastern region goes back to the 1980s,starting with Project Tiger and wildlife films. Singly or together,they have worked on several books,including Ocean to Sky: India from the Air and the recently published The Long Road to Siachen: The Question Why. This trilogy,with its vast canvas,began to take shape during more focused projects in the northeastern region. Indeed,it was first thought of as a film project before evolving as a series of books,logistically supported by the army. Each volume has a foreword by the former chief of army staff,General V.K. Singh,and the three service chiefs launched the trilogy in January. Published under the authors own imprint,the English edition is aimed in the first instance at army officers and men who have served in the northeastern regions. This is to be followed by editions in different languages,hopefully enabling a wider audience to gain a clearer understanding of the people and places,the culture and landscapes of what are arguably among the most stunning and beautiful parts of our country.

Detailed and profuse as it is,the trilogy actually only whets the appetite,leaving the reader more curious about what has been offered in abundance but still in tantalising portions. Each volume has a bibliography for further reading and armchair exploration. Yet,everyone may not want to go further,so satisfying is the experience of perusing this ambitious and intense work. As of now,it isnt readily available to the general public,but anyone who can get hold of a copy will be richly rewarded.