RU prof in tribe-hunt team
- National Geographic to shoot indigenous people in Arunachal Pradesh
SASWATI MUKHERJEE
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080604/jsp/jharkhand/story_9362818.jsp

Jamshedpur, June 3: A team from National Geographic Channel is set to
explore the jungles of Arunachal Pradesh to capture on reel the lives of
endangered tribals, and guiding them through the dense forests would be
a Ranchi University professor, Ganesh Murmu.

Five language experts from across India have been selected to help the
National Geographic team. Murmu’s added qualification is his extensive
research on tribals’ lives and language.

“As the tribals shy away from the camera, our role would be to provide
identification and sufficient exposure about these people. Only then can
viewers learn about them and their practises, all an integral part of
their existence,” said Murmu.

The programme was developed to connect the remote tribal population with
the mainstream and would focus on the revival of endangered tribes.

“This would be their (National Geographic’s) third brush with a tribal
community,” he added.

National Geographic will also record a special capsule on the tribes,
capturing the activities of the tribal population — cultural activities,
festivals and lifestyle.

The documentary will feature five districts across the state with
special emphasis on the differences between various groups.

“They (National Geographic) have shot exclusive modules on the Nagas and
the tribal population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The focus
would be on tribal communities that are cut off from civilisation and
are left with a handful of survivors. Therefore, the attention has seen
a prominent shift to Arunachal Pradesh,” the Ranchi University professor
said.

However, since shooting in Arunachal Pradesh cannot be expected to be
hazard free the team would be accompanied by RAF personnel at all times.
Special permission from the state government is also required to shoot
the documentary.

But Murmu, the expert in tribal languages, is undaunted at the perils
that go with the expedition.

Arunachal Pradesh has about 50 tribes, out of which five are endangered.
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