BOOKS ON THE NAGAS
Contact NISC for inquiries:
nisc@nagalim.nl
[please write "Postcards", "Donation" or "Volunteer"
in the subject line]
Out of Isolation: Exploring A Forgotten World - by Frans Welman
|
Frans Welman is a photojournalist, writer and documentary filmmaker based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Starting out as a clinical psychologist with a preference for cross-cultural psychology he used that focus to start a journey which carried him from Botswana to Brazil via Kenya and Cameroon via Venezuela, the Guyana’s and Peru to Indonesia, India, Indochina and West Papua to eventually land on the doorstep of Nagaland. Working in the prominent Dutch anthropological Royal Tropical Museum, education department, for quite a few years brought him the conviction to stand by indigenous peoples’ right to self determination, so as to achieve self-rule. As a visual artist Frans Welman brings these peoples and their environments to light as his never-ending journey continues.
Out of Isolation is a journey into the culture of the Nagas; the uniqueness of life in Naga the Hills and shows the driving force and resilience of the Naga Peoples to begin with. Followed by wandering among the Nagas to hear and listen to their stories, their experiences, in this long term conflict. An extensive history account provides insight in the emergence and dynamics of this internationally almost unknown Indo-Naga conflict. From its onset and it reveals which parties participated and participate in it and are thus responsible for prolonging the suffering of Nagas and Indians. Going into the second cease fire, held in third countries on the highest level, peace talks are examined and the p[rice people pay for enjoying relative peace but a peace under control. In this atmosphere questions like ‘What India is afraid of’ come to the fore, questions which are difficult to answer with certainty because there are no public policies to rely on. In conclusion prospects of an honorable solution are looked into and because the Giant India fights it out with the Dwarf Nagaland suggestions to take this conflict into the international community are offered. The admirable note to be made is that even after more than 50 years and several generations the Nagas still believe in their rights and are willing to stand up for them.
Out of Isolation by Frans Welman is an in depth research account on the age old Indo-Naga conflict and is published in New Delhi, India.
Summary:
Out of Isolation introduces the culture of the Nagas, a people separated by the international border of India and Myanmar. In wandering among the Nagas personal accounts both culture and the experiences of armed conflict told by ordinary villagers; old and young. They are heartbreaking stories which span the entire long time war of occupation which has lasted more than 50 year old. Wandering among the Nagas concludes with a sneak in into Nagaland where the author visits a Naga Army camp where women and men are trained to, among other things, withstand torture. In depth British and Indian history with interludes of American Baptists, who converted the Nagas to Christianity and an interlude on economy, the resources of the Naga Hills relating to its geopolitical importance follow.
Culture is the driving force behind the resistance of the Naga Peoples against numerous invasions. The first one was against the British who took some 60 years to colonize a portion of their lands. Arbitrarily part of India and Myanmar the Nagas fight for their right to self determination. History includes the extent of the divide and rule aims which resulted by the Naga politicians and forces to be split up into factions. This is a long war between an emerging power and a small people and Out of Isolation concludes with an account of the current cease fire and subsequent peace talks, now in their tenth year, which are held in third countries, one of which is the Netherlands.
In the epilogue the Call for Peace a cultural exposure expresses the aim to lead the Nagas Out of Isolation by way of making them known internationally through their unique culture. Raised interest for their plight and culture should make the Naga people well known members of the international community.
For visitors and journalists alike it was and to an extent still is difficult to enter the Naga Hills. Indian permits are required but rarely issued and the international community understands the conflict as a domestic problem. Consequently Nagaland has been isolated for a very long time.
Frans Welman is a photojournalist, writer and documentary filmmaker based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Starting out as a clinical psychologist with a preference for cross-cultural psychology he used that focus to start a journey which carried him from Botswana to Brasil via Kenia and the Cameroons to Venezuela the Gyanas to Indonesia, India, Indochina and West Papua to Peru and eventually landed on the doorstep of Nagaland. Working in the prominent Dutch anthropological Royal Tropical Museum, education department, for quite a few years brought him the conviction to stand by indigenous peoples’ right to self determination, so the people can achieve self-rule. As a visual artist Frans Welman brings these peoples and their environments to light as his never-ending journey continues.
Beyond Twilight is a thriller on a deep rooted conflict, the Indo-Naga conflict. Without pointing directly at culprits all participants, either contemporary or those haunting ones from the past play prominent roles. All have interests in either solving this historically based but unknown conflict which has taken many lives both on the side of the Nagas but also on the Indian side, or to perpetuate it. Though Beyond Twilight is fiction it is firmly rooted in reality. All characters are fictitious but stand for representatives of interests. Thus, though an assassination ordered and executed did not take place Beyond Twilight shows that a well planned intervention could have far reaching consequences, so far reaching the characters could be near you both in time and space. They are close to you, as close as your next door neighbor. The plotter plots from next door and aims to lead the Nagas to be Free. Will he or she be caught in time to prevent this?