New Delhi: In the recently-concluded 67th National Film Awards, Sikkim was adjudged the ‘Most Film Friendly State’ in the country.
The small Himalayan state was recognised for its emergence as a new film shooting landscape in India. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, also known as P.S. Golay, took to his Facebook page recently to hail the recognition.
“It is a proud moment for Sikkim,” he posted, adding: “I hope this sets the foundation for films to be an integral aspect of Sikkim and provide a platform for our talented people…”
Chairperson of the Sikkim Film Promotion Board, Pooja Sharma, told the Sikkim Express that the national award was based on the state’s performance in the past few years.
“Sikkim today is a promising state with its film policy. The state government has made several attractive provisions to have a friendly film shooting environment for the producers and directors and also for the local filmmakers…We are also working to have a film city here also,” she said.
Shooting for several Bollywood films such as Qarib Qarib Single, Yaariyan and others have taken place in Sikkim, especially in the state’s picturesque northern district, in the recent past.
Calling Sikkim a “premier film shooting destination”, award-winning Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai has also been quoted as saying, “The award has given a national level visibility for Sikkim among the filmmakers which could bring in more film projects here in future.”
A first ‘gurukul-type’ school for indigenous knowledge systems
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has inaugurated the state’s first-ever formal school for indigenous language and knowledge systems.
Called ‘Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko’, the school has been established in Rang village, situated atop a hill overlooking Seppa, the headquarters of the state’s East Kameng district.
‘Nyubu’ means priest, ‘Nyvgam’ refers to a person with wisdom and knowledge, and ‘Yerko’ means learning institution.
“People from our neighbouring states congratulated me. Many of them have lost their indigenous identity. We Arunachalees have woken up at the right moment,” Khandu said during the inauguration Saturday.
The chief minister lauded the Donyi Polo Cultural and Charitable Trust for the initiative and Pai Dawe for donating land for the “gurukul-type” school.
Khandu also suggested that the institution have traditional houses so children “learn in an environment that is their culture”. The state has earmarked Rs 3 crore for development and upkeep of the school.
Naga body writes to Biden, Harris against ‘suppressive’ Indian govt
The Global Naga Forum, a platform for Nagas living in different parts of the world, has written to US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the “reality of the Naga people’s plight under suppression at the hands” of the Indian government.
In its statement, the forum has also taken note of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act that has been in force in several parts of the Northeast and said it gives “unrestrained powers to the Indian Armed Forces to go against any civilians, meaning any person standing up for the Naga people’s right to political self-determination”.
The group also mentioned the ongoing Naga peace talks and said, “There have been several failed agreements and negotiations for a peaceful resolution of this long-standing Indo-Naga political problem. The latest one, which started in 1997, has been going on for over 23 years because the Indian government’s determination to divide the Nagas and deny us our human rights continues under the current Hindu-leaning BJP government.”
Assam Police’s ‘Karan Arjun’ creative for poll awareness
To ensure a high voter turnout, the Assam Police has taken to an audio-visual graphic using actor Rakhee’s famous dialogue “Mere Karan Arjun aayenge (my Karan-Arjun will come)” from the 1995 Bollywood blockbuster Karan Arjun.
Assam goes to polls on 27 March, 1 and 6 April.
A message at the button of the graphic reads: “Mere Karan Arjun vote karne ayenge (My Karan-Arjun will come to cast vote).”
The post also contains a quirky EDM-remixed version of the famous dialogue and a caption that reads: “Coz ye bandhan to universal adult franchise ka bandhan hai…Democracy ke festival me, legal right aur civic duty ka Sangam hai.”
🎶Coz ye bandhan to universal adult franchise ka bandhan hai,
Democracy ke festival me, legal right aur civic duty ka Sangam hai. 🎶#GoVote#AssamAssemblyPolls#KaranArjunAyenge pic.twitter.com/ruaThGPMS6— Assam Police (@assampolice) March 23, 2021
(Edited by Rachel John)
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