Crafts and Cultural Tourism in Assam: A Study in Sivasagar
Cultural tourism is an emerging form of tourism in developing countries rich in tangible and intangible aspects of culture like local customs, art, craft, and architectural heritage.
Manyiang: An Inter Community Relationship
'Manyiang' or 'Menyi' is a term used for the inter community friendly relationship between the Apatani and the Nyishis of Arunachal Pradesh. A Nyishi used to address a friend from the plains of Asom as Mitur and the Aka or the Miji friend as Lekwng. Likewise, an Apatani friend was addressed as Manyiang. An Apatani also used the same term for addressing a Nyishi friend.
Traditional Culture: Basis for Sustainable Development
The 1944 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Insidor Isac Rabi recalled how his mother greeted him daily on his return from school with the same question, "Did you ask any good question today"? I submit that I shall consider myself to be more than fortunate if this address leads to one good question at the end.
In Search of Sustainable Development
The Northeast has all the potentialities to strive and achieve development. When the desire and dynamics of the people of Northeast India is for development, it is necessary that the meaning of sustainable development is looked into. Development is required but it cannot be at the cost of peace and happiness and at the cost of family and community bonds. Today at what point the 'developed' countries are is also to be evaluated.
Caste Tribe Continuum in Indian Society
The different social units in India, including the so-called tribes, used to categorise themselves as 'jati', and most of them termed caste as well as tribe as 'jati'.
Sage Vasistha in the Sandhyachala
Vasistha was one of the foremost seers of the Vedic era, who is said to be the composer of the seventh Mandala of the Rik Veda. Did this sage ever visit the Sandhyachal of the eastern-most region of the country and meditate here? In this connection two things confront us.
Srimanta Sankaradeva: The Divine Communicator
Human beings have been engaged in a magical activity called communication from the very moment they arrived on this planet. As the human race flourished and multiplied, this concept of communication too began expanding, resulting in what we today know as mass communication. This activity called mass communication is (i) continuous, (ii) personal, (iii) circular in motion, and, most importantly (iv) irreversible.
Asom of India: Past and Present
India, this land of ours, is an independent, sovereign, democratic nation and there could be no two opinions about that. All the said aspects of this identity carry specific meanings. A distinct geographical boundary and a national culture give this identity a speciality. But, yet, this identity was jolted in the course of the last century.
The Fading Practice
Mosaic is a word often used for the Indian culture, analogues, a few puzzle pieces towards making a picture. It is however, perspective that sets a clear notion in our mind that it is always “One” picture with no missing puzzle pieces.
Drifting into Obscurity
Preserving and promoting the ancient traditions of various communities, while continually emphasizing the significance of safeguarding one's customs and heritage to the younger generation, has been the mission of The Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture since its establishment. In line with this goal, the subject I am presenting here focuses on the material culture of one community, which is an integral part of their age old identity. The creation of pottery, a form of material culture within a community, dates back to the dawn of human civilization.
