From Our Correspondent
TURA, Sep 18: A five-day workshop on filmmaking, theatre, traditional musical instruments and art in the community starting based on the theme ‘Nokpante’, got under way here on Monday.
It is being organised by the Arts and Culture department at the Tura district auditorium and the district library.
The workshop is part of the department’s umbrella project which aims to go back to the roots of the state’s cultural legacy and revive its unique heritage to preserve them for the younger generation by creating a universal platform for artistes to learn, compete, interact and share experiences and further their expertise in their respective fields.
Shedding light on the project, Director, Art and Culture, Dikki D Shira said that the umbrella project was first conceptualised in 2019 to bring all art forms under one roof.
The idea was to bring together all the artistes and aspirants under one platform to learn and interact under the aegis of renowned local artistes. The umbrella project was first organized last year in the month of November and owing to its success the department was encouraged to continue with the 2nd chapter of the project.
Over a span of five days, renowned filmmakers, theatre and film personalities and artistes will be sharing their valuable knowledge, experiences and resources with registered participants. The workshop will focus on filmmaking, theatre, traditional musical instruments (Chigring, dotrong) and art in the community which comprises art using scraps and waste materials.
Resource persons for the workshop include noted film director and script writer Dominic Megam Sangma; theatre director and film actor Jyoti Narayan Nath; lecturer in Fine Arts, Marborsing Marbaniang; artistes Chekam A Sangma (Chigring) and Tangsrik A Sangma (Dotrong); and faculty of theatre workshop, Assam/Meghalaya, and founder of Dokaku Art and Cultural Wangala Association, Balsrame A Sangma.
Speaking during the inaugural session as the chief guest, GHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush R Marak stated that it was a privilege for the people of the region for being able to take part in such a platform to learn about and work towards the preservation of their cultural identity.
The CEM, urging the participants to be attentive, said that “cultural heritage is the unique identity of a people and to preserve it, we need to learn about it first therefore the workshop gives us ample opportunity to study out traditions.”
Speaking on the topic of Garo traditional institution, ‘Nokpante’, where the youth learn and train to become productive individuals in the community, Marak stated that he hoped the workshop will produce talented and industrious individuals.
Speaking at the occasion as the guest of honor, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani expressed his fondness for digital media.
He said that he had seen quite a number of short films but lamented the fact that he could have learnt more if subtitles were included. Informing that they are looking forward to giving short funding for some movies that the youth are making in the society, the DC stated that he would like to see more exchanges in the future of this kind.