From Our Correspondent
TURA: The A’chik Welfare Frontal Organization (AWFO) has strongly objected to the alleged misuse of Garo traditional folk song tunes by Doordarshan and has demanded an apology and immediate scrapping of the documentary and black listing of the production party involved in the cultural piracy.
“Doordarshan telecast a programme on June 18 at 11 pm on DD NE where the traditional practice of delivering a child and other traditions of the people of Haider village of Upper Subansiri district were shown in which the background music was covered by the age old traditional songs of the Garos pirated from the original recording made for Doordarshan by the Garos,” alleged AWFO Chairman John Leslee K Sangma.
He accused Doordarshan of lowering the beauty and relevance of the songs and the tunes which have been the identity of the Garos from time immemorial and added that the innocent tribals have fallen prey to the exploiters who had deliberately taken advantage for their own personal benefit.
The organisation has called for an unconditional apology from Doordarshan and strong action against cultural piracy by black listing the editor, director and music editor of that particular documentary from any future contract.
The organization has also sought the scrapping of the documentary with immediate effect and warned of agitation and legal action if its grievances are not looked into within this week.