MY IMPRESSION OF ASSAM :AHSEC; HORNBILL
MY IMPRESSION OF ASSAM - VERRIER ELWIN
About this Author:
Harry Verrier Holman Elwin was a man of British origin. He was born on 29 August 1902 in Dover. He was the son of Edmund Henry Elwin, a bishop by profession .Elwin was educated at Dean Close School and Merton College, Oxford. There he received his B.A degree securing first class. Later on he obtained his M.A and D.Sc. degree as well.
Elwin worked as the Vice-Principal of Wycliff Hall, Oxford and also a Lecturer at Merton College, Oxford. Later on in 1927 he came to India as a British Missionary.
This British born Indian author, anthropologist and ethnologist was a tribal activist. In the beginning he was a clergyman. After coming to India he left this post and worked with Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. He converted into Hinduism in 1935after staying in a Gandhian Ashram.
Elwin was a reputed writer also. His early works are based on Baigas and Gonds of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Central India. He married a 13 year old tribal lady and also worked for various tribal communities. He studied about various tribal communities of North East India and also NEFA (North East Frontier Agency)
TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWERS:
1. Who was Varrier Elwin ? Where did he make his second home ?
Ans: Varrier Elwin was a noted British author and anthropologist. He spent of his life time in India. In fact, he made the North east his second home, married a tribal girl and even he died here in India.
2.What does show Elwin's deep concern for the people of North-East region ?
Ans:Varrier Elwin was an educator and missionary in India. He travelled North Eastern regions extensively. He is called the architect of NEFA. He studied tribal life and wrote a number of books. Hence his writings on the tribal people of north east shows his deep concern for the people of this region.
3.What is the full form of AIR ?
Ans: All Indian Reporter.
4. From where has 'My Impression of Assam' been taken ?
Ans: The essay ' My Impression of Assam has been taken from the collected works of Satish Ch. Kakati. It was edited by Prof. Dilip Kumar.
5.How much time did Varrier Elwin spend in Assam ?
Ans: Varrier Elwin spent about twenty five years in India and about four months in Assam.
6.What are the things that the author love in Assam?
Ans: Varrier Elwin loved the scenic beauty of Assam. The lively natural scenery attracted him which he admired from the very core of his heart. Besides, he loved or liked the sense of hospitality, grace and the charm of it's people. The mutual understanding, brotherhood, and above all the author very much. unity among the people of this land attracted the author very much.
TEXTUAL QUESTION AND ANSWER:
1.What does Varrier Elwin say about the tradition of courtesy and hospitality in the modern world? What advice does he give to the people of Assam on this point ?
Answer: Varrier Elwin says that the people of Assam are friendly. They show courtesy and hospitality towartds foreigners which the author did not find in other countries. He says that it is undubitably a rare thing in the modern world of competition and rivalry. He hopes that the assamese people will never forget this.
2. What difference does Varrier Elwin draw between the game sanctuaries of Kenya and Kaziranga ?
Answer: Varrier Elwin says that in east Africa there is a tradition that everybody should co operate to make the sanctuaries a success. A lot of money is spent on them. No one would dream of poaching there. There in a brief drive of cars, people see hundred of giraffes, zebras, ostriches, wild elephants, and even lions wandering about near the roads in perfect confidence.
Whereas, in kaziranga game reserve the animals are never sure that they are safe; they do not appear so readily. The public, here, do not co operate as like as in East Africa.
3. What appeal does the author make to the scholars of Assam concerning the songs and poems of the state ? Why does he make this appeal ?
Answer: The author appeals to the scholars of Assam concerning the songs and poems of the state. He says that they should tale the trouble to record the old songs and poems of the state. These old songs are disappearing rapidly as the new generation veers away from the traditional ways. They rather prefer the jazz music. The author says that it is very necessary to preserve the heritage of the state. So he appeals to the people of Assam to preserve the traditional music, folk songs. tales and myths of the hilly people here.
4.Why, according to Varrier Elwin, should wood carving be taught and encouraged in our educational centres ?
Answer: According to Varrier Elwin we should encourage wood carving in our traditional centres. He says that the wood carvings of Manipur and angamis are extraordinarily vigorous and beautiful. We should not let it lost. The thankhuls of Manipur make splendid decorations on their house.So do the Maos and maroms. The konyaksadorn their morungs, the Angamis make magnificent village gates, the phoms and other tribes and experts decorate drinking mugs or make toys. This art is immensely beautiful and precious but with modernity much of this art is disappearing. Thus the author fears that if not taught and encouraged at the educational centres, wood carving might become a thing of the past.
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