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Toshi Wungtung, center, and other dignitaries release a documentary on the log drum, on May 2 in Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 2 (EMN): A documentary on the log-drum—‘Shot Awake’ of Shajung Morung, Changlangshu village in Mon district—was released on May 2 in Kohima. The documentary was initiated by the Changlangshu Village Students Union (CVSU) of Mon district.
The log-drum in the Naga lore generally symbolises ‘victory, prosperity, truthfulness.’ It is an epitome, a monument of warfare, said Toshi Wungtung, advisor for Information and Public Relations, in his address as guest of honour of the event.
The Nagas have come a long way and survived through warfare. Therefore, the log drum signifies a ‘very challenging epitome,’ he said.
The documentary has a lot of heritage that can be used as reference materials for research on Naga culture particularly that of Mon district, he said.
Speaking on the importance of the ‘Morung’ (‘dormitory’) the legislator explained that it was a traditional school of the Nagas in the olden days.
It was not only a place where the log drum was kept but a place where knowledge was passed down to the younger generations, he said.
Apart from knowledge, the place also birthed blacksmiths as all sorts of livelihood tools and weapons including machete, spears etc., were produced at the Morung, he said.
The advisor urged the people to work more on ‘culture documentaries’ in the future. This sort of films must be preserved and continued ‘otherwise we will be devoid of identity,’ he said and urged the people to conduct further study and do more research on similar lines.
Moatemjen Longkumer, joint director of the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) congratulated Changlangshu for the documentary.
‘It is a very important aspect of the Naga culture and this achievement is significant,’ he said.
Traditionally, log drums were used during village emergencies such as fire; or community events such a village meetings, celebrations or even welcoming outsiders. Even in the modern day, log drums still stand as an ‘emblem of unity and sacrifice’ and a souvenir from the past, he said.
The documentary can be used as a useful tool for future generation to preserve the Naga way of life and culture, he added.
Recognising the need to preserve and introduce global languages, the SCERT has introduced a series of textbooks on Nagaland’s heritage which will form the basis of all MIL (Modern Indian Languages) texts from class 1 to class 8, the officer added.
A brief description about the film states: ‘The film uses live footage of the log drum making process; interviews of key persons and photographs of the event to document the story of how a Naga tradition long abandoned came to life through the sheer faith and hard work of a people who believed they could make it, stated in a short description to the documentary.’
The 26-minute documentary was filmed and photographed by Sangti Wanmai and Angke Konyak; scripted and narrated by Anungla Zoe Longkumer; and edited by Megotsolie Dolie, Anungla Zoe Longkumer and Menang Jamir. The film was produced by Moba Langfhoang of Changlangshu village in Mon district.
The film received invitations for screening at the Bali International Indigenous Film Festival, in Indonesia in May 2019, and also at the Rainforest Fringe Festival at Kuching, Sarawak, in Malaysia in July 2019.