STATE MANIPUR
Manipur dance is its colorful dec-
oration, lightness of dancing foot,
delicacy of abhinaya (drama), lilt-
ing music and poetic charm. The
Manipuri dance form is mostly
ritualistic and draws heavily from
the rich culture of the state of Ma-
nipur. Their creative minds found
much support from the nobel lau-
reate Rabindranath Tagore who
included this dance form in many
of his dramas.
About paintings, one thing that
can easily be said is that it has oc-
cupied a huge space in the society
so far and the women in Manipur
are not only making their liveli-
hoods by wielding paintbrushes,
but have also found a means to
20 August 08
vent their anger against the vio-
lence in the State.
An international news agency
quoted one S. Seityabati Devi as
saying: “I have portrayed what-
ever was happening around in
our society; the things that have
touched me or affected me.” An-
other artist R.K. Shangrila Devi
was also similarly quoted as say-
ing: “Presently, I am following
the theme (in paintings) that hu-
man beings have limitations. I
mean that the sun, moon and stars
in the sky are eternal and will sur-
vive till the universe exists. But,
human life is transient.”
In fact, the rich history of
Manipur can only be compared
to the rich heritage of Tripura,
which found equal position at the
national level for its rich tradi-
tion. Culture and heritage have
been the foundation of the rich
traditions of Northeast, which ul-
timately shape their people’s cre-
ative minds. Turmoil and violence
is just one side of it and only right
perspective can change our way
of looking at things.
A perfect combination of art
and violence could be a new thing
for the social scientists, but this is
what can independently stand as
a huge chapter in their research
papers. Only if they try to see
what goes behind these innova-
tive minds!!!
Raymer’s Remedy
I
f the IT sector has introduced a new
dimension to the Indian job scenario,
the media in general has taken a ma-
jor leap that has ushered us into a new
century of information and knowledge
sharing.
The Northeast is one corner of In-
dia, which saw a massive boom in media
sector with the coming up of numerous
newspapers, periodicals and quite a few
satellite channels since the beginning of
the 21st century.
As such news channels and peri-
odicals have opened the flood-gates em-
ployment of new generation journalists.
Possibilities are also rife that this new lot
of professionals might not realise what it
takes to be a perfect journalist, its ethics
and the demands of this profession.
Steve Raymer, a National Geograph-
ic photographer and associate professor
of Journalism at Indiana University, has
a note of advice for these new genera-
tion professionals, whom he believes,
should know that “the central purpose of
journalism is to provide citizens with the
accurate and reliable information they
need to function in a free society.”
He was pretty disturbed to find
that the news channels and newspapers
were hardly following any journalistic
EVENT
ethic. “They seem to be in
a hurry to be the first one in
breaking any news. “With
the media having to play a
crucial role in a democratic
set up, the need of the hour
is to put a stop to yellow
journalism by maintaining
the credibility of sources of
information of facts in re-
porting,” he asserted.
Sensational journalism
has become so powerful
these days that true journal-
ism has taken a back seat.
Ethical journalism is often
construed as journalism
without aggression.
Raymer reminded his
professional colleagues in
Shillong to refrain from
sensationalising news and
instead focus on credible
Steve Raymer
and accurate reporting. “Ethi-
cal journalism is essential for long-term reach and new publications, new chan-
success of the media,” he said. nels and new networks,” he said. “It’s a
Raymer has come to India for a great time to be a journalist in India be-
work related to his book in cause there is just so much growth and
Kolkata. He came to Shil- opportunity for students.”
long for a photojournalism Starting from that cue, Raymer
workshop at St. Anthony’s called upon the journalists of the North-
College for more than 70 stu- east to play a constructive role in build-
dents from the mass media. ing the nation.
Raymer was accompanied Raymer became familiar with In-
here by the American Centre, dia early in his professional career and
Kolkata, Director Douglas the country has remained a focus for his
G. Kelly and the Information work late in his career.
Assistant Rai Baruah. “When I was a kid, right out of
Before his departure graduate school, India was one of the
from Bloomington, Raymer, first places National Geographic sent
in a statement to the Indiana me. It was in the summer of 1973 when
University news section had there were no cars there, literally. It’s a
said, “The media in India are place that I’ve gone to many times in my
absolutely exploding, both career,” he earlier had said.
the broadcast media and the His visit this time, Raymer believes,
print media. They’re explod- would give him an opportunity to cap-
ing in English and the national languag- ture in his lens the new face of India that
es and even global languages.” has gone through several changes during
“The Indian media are extremely the past 35 years.
healthy and just exploding in terms of Rajoo Sharma
August 08 21