Elmer R War on a unique documentary that says everything there is to say about Mawlai
MEGHALAYA CHIEF secretary WMS Pariat recently unveiled an interesting novel project at a grand function at the Multi-Use Convention Hall of the North Eastern Hill University.
This is a documentary film about Mawlai Township and community simply named ‘Mawlai’ depicting history, localities, land holding by clans, establishment of social and religious institutions including schools, notable events and some outstanding personalities of the community from the past.
Brainchild of an uncle-nephew duo – Dr HB Kharlukhi and KK Kharlukhi – the film was produced by the Community Documentation Committee, Mawlai constituted solely for this purpose. There have been efforts by some groups and individuals to document the important facets of the Mawlai community in the past. Based on these and also researches by Dr Kharlukhi that a rudimentary script highlighting the important milestones and nuances of the community of Mawlai came up. KK Kharlukhi provided the finesse to the script and also directed the film.
In its premier show, the 90-minute documentary, although devoid of entertainment was able to hold the audience spellbound to the very end. It started with the genesis of Mawlai as a community quoting from various documentations and historical sources available. The film was embellished by flashes of scenes enacted to depict the massacre at Pamshala; the stories of the two nymphs from whom Mawlai Iewrynghep got its name as well as the story of a man (Baki) who bludgeoned his mother and from which Mawlai Mawdatbaki got its name. Interviews with community leaders reveal the intricate passage the community underwent in the past. Besides notable places, the film shows the establishment of the Mawlai Town Durbar and the Mawlai Sports Club as the two major unifying factors of the community. Some landmark practices of the community such as the meat industry set up by local butchers and making of local rice-based snacks gained a place in the film.
The film shows the topography and boundaries of Mawlai, notable places and their history, the occupation of the inhabitants in bygone years, the first school at Mawlai and the advent and establishment of the churches and other religious entities. Prominent institutions ranging from the Don Bosco Museum, the municipal landfill at Marten, NEHU to schools, businesses and community practices are also shown. The film briefly chronicled some of the outstanding personalities of the community from the past which include Sati Raja, Syiem of Mylliem, former chief secretary JM Jala, noted Hill State activist Meshak Kharkongor and others.
Most of the viewers including invitees and friends from outside the community expressed their delight in having learnt of the rich and interesting fabric of the community. Even people from Mawlai itself were astounded to witness the hitherto unknown facts about their own community.
The three main features that enabled the making of this documentary are the comparatively large geographical size of Mawlai, its close-knit community and rich past in terms of history and social events, observes the director of the film.
The production and post-production of the film was done by RiKhasi Channel and the producer of the film was local MLA Embhah Syiemlieh with Teibor Pathaw, an entrepreneur as executive producer. The project is a non-commercial venture and the CDs are sold at a nominal rate. The intention of the producers is to make available the film to all including the local durbars, the institutions, library, museum, researchers and the student community. It is interesting to note that the expenses were met through sponsorship and monetary contributions by the inhabitants of Mawlai.
“Scores of people generously contributed to the cause that culminate in the successful completion of the film,” said a member of the Community Documentation Committee. “It is gratifying and encouraging just to know that common people also take interest and pride in their community.”
The purpose of the documentary is to capture the essence of the community in vivid moving photographs and make available the documentation of the journey of the community through the years to posterity.
“This is the first time that such a project as this was done by any community in Meghalaya,” said a viewer at the premier show function. “It is the first of its kind. I hope other localities would take a cue from this and thus enrich our knowledge of our collective past.”