A review of NBHM’s “Traditional underground beekeeping in Mima Village, Nagaland (2012)” written by Susan Waten, 73 pages
Not all advocacy books/manuals related to human trade and occupation come packed in little boxes of information. The detailed ones too do not necessarily make one understand the whole gamut of information with interesting twists and turns to keep the attention span of those who hunger for finer aspects of descriptive narrative intact.
However, the recent books, journals and brochures published by Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) have managed to set an exemplary bar for providing facts and data and making them interesting to the lay readers about achievement and activities of departmental initiatives.
NBHM''s recent book "Traditional underground beekeeping in Mima Village, Nagaland (2012)" written by Susan Waten is not just about a noble profession or occupation that the villagers of Mima had set with destiny but much more than what the title suggests.
To use the author''s own words, the book has been conceptualized with a "discerning and meditative ''inner eye''." It serves as not only a "flash light" in the dark caves but also holds that attention of readers with Susan Waten''s unique narrative style.
What was perhaps conceptualized with just an idea of informing the public about the success of traditional beekeeping business in a village have been turned into a narrative which may invite the envy of documentation experts, researchers or even anthropologists trained in the art of participant observation. The reasons are not far to seek if one spares some time to browse through the book excellently produced with not only memorable vignettes but also photos that tell a thousand words.
But what does the book really tell? Mission Director of NBHM, Mhathung Yanthan has succinctly put it in his forward to the book. The book is all about NBHM''s concern about the uniqueness of traditional underground beekeeping practice and its attempt to ensure that the tradition continues in collaboration with modern scientific techniques.
However, as one goes through the book, one will realize that response to the adaptation of modern methods requires time. Perhaps, NBHM also along the way, realized that there is a need for a seamless synergy between the traditional and the modern in the most creative fashion.
The author''s ability to grasp the nuances of traditional beekeeping practice in a local setting through a meticulously spanned out field-visits, participant observation and interviews with the doyen and pioneer of beekeeping in Mima Village, Metsilhou Livi and others have given birth to a treasure strove of knowledge for generations who are conscious of the existing abundant skills and resources of Nagaland.
Suzan Waten''s knack of little facts that lead to bigger and ever interesting narrative would keep any discerning readers glued to the work.
Thanks to her sense of the "inner eye", we know that while the Japanese and British troops were engaged in the battle of Kohima in 1944, Mima village actually began to streamline and concretize what we can now proudly call a tradition of beekeeping.
According to the author, before that, not only villages in and around Mima but all over the state were engaged with honey bee harvesting from the wild. She mentions that Naga forefathers had discovered and collected honey combs from the tree trunks or rock crevices in their paddy fields and forests.
For ages, no one seriously thought about beekeeping as an occupation until, Metsilhou Livi, a nonagenarian and an enterprising young man then embarked on the mission now ably taken over by NBHM. It was truly a mission for the villagers of Mima to have emulated the way shown by Metsilhou Livi. Mima village is now called the The Honey Village.
While the author details the tradition of underground beekeeping, she also simultaneously manages to weave numerous other parallel tales of the beekeeping pioneer, the legends and folk stories surrounding Mima villages and even touches upon historical tit-bits from the history of World War II and the economy of the region ravaged by war and inter-clan strife.
The two case studies she has picked up spanning two generations not only represent the contextual history of Mima but also contemporary realities set in motion since the beginning of “Naga national movement” in the first half of the 20th century. The days of trials and tribulations faced by the Naga people resisting the onslaught of Indian armed forces attempting to suppress the Naga armed insurrection. Metsilhou Livi, as described by the author, is a nonagenarian of different breed who not only has sharp memory but also is capable of contextualizing the entire history of traditional underground beekeeping.
Apart from the details of traditional beekeeping, the author''s insightful coverage of Metsilhou Livi''s life indicates the fact that when one writes about an occupation, there is no escape from understanding the socio-political context under which we all are placed. No wonder then, the “history of Naga national movement” was also a part of Metsilhou Livi''s life. Yes, he had spent his days as an underground (''national worker'') too and perhaps for many years, an individual like underground beekeeping expert Metsilhou Livi will continue to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs based on the rich skills and resources of the land. It is indeed a mission. NBHM and the team members are not only passionate about what they do but also know where they are heading.
(Photo credit: NBHM)
Not all advocacy books/manuals related to human trade and occupation come packed in little boxes of information. The detailed ones too do not necessarily make one understand the whole gamut of information with interesting twists and turns to keep the attention span of those who hunger for finer aspects of descriptive narrative intact.
However, the recent books, journals and brochures published by Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) have managed to set an exemplary bar for providing facts and data and making them interesting to the lay readers about achievement and activities of departmental initiatives.
NBHM''s recent book "Traditional underground beekeeping in Mima Village, Nagaland (2012)" written by Susan Waten is not just about a noble profession or occupation that the villagers of Mima had set with destiny but much more than what the title suggests.
To use the author''s own words, the book has been conceptualized with a "discerning and meditative ''inner eye''." It serves as not only a "flash light" in the dark caves but also holds that attention of readers with Susan Waten''s unique narrative style.
What was perhaps conceptualized with just an idea of informing the public about the success of traditional beekeeping business in a village have been turned into a narrative which may invite the envy of documentation experts, researchers or even anthropologists trained in the art of participant observation. The reasons are not far to seek if one spares some time to browse through the book excellently produced with not only memorable vignettes but also photos that tell a thousand words.
But what does the book really tell? Mission Director of NBHM, Mhathung Yanthan has succinctly put it in his forward to the book. The book is all about NBHM''s concern about the uniqueness of traditional underground beekeeping practice and its attempt to ensure that the tradition continues in collaboration with modern scientific techniques.
However, as one goes through the book, one will realize that response to the adaptation of modern methods requires time. Perhaps, NBHM also along the way, realized that there is a need for a seamless synergy between the traditional and the modern in the most creative fashion.
The author''s ability to grasp the nuances of traditional beekeeping practice in a local setting through a meticulously spanned out field-visits, participant observation and interviews with the doyen and pioneer of beekeeping in Mima Village, Metsilhou Livi and others have given birth to a treasure strove of knowledge for generations who are conscious of the existing abundant skills and resources of Nagaland.
Suzan Waten''s knack of little facts that lead to bigger and ever interesting narrative would keep any discerning readers glued to the work.
Thanks to her sense of the "inner eye", we know that while the Japanese and British troops were engaged in the battle of Kohima in 1944, Mima village actually began to streamline and concretize what we can now proudly call a tradition of beekeeping.
According to the author, before that, not only villages in and around Mima but all over the state were engaged with honey bee harvesting from the wild. She mentions that Naga forefathers had discovered and collected honey combs from the tree trunks or rock crevices in their paddy fields and forests.
For ages, no one seriously thought about beekeeping as an occupation until, Metsilhou Livi, a nonagenarian and an enterprising young man then embarked on the mission now ably taken over by NBHM. It was truly a mission for the villagers of Mima to have emulated the way shown by Metsilhou Livi. Mima village is now called the The Honey Village.
While the author details the tradition of underground beekeeping, she also simultaneously manages to weave numerous other parallel tales of the beekeeping pioneer, the legends and folk stories surrounding Mima villages and even touches upon historical tit-bits from the history of World War II and the economy of the region ravaged by war and inter-clan strife.
The two case studies she has picked up spanning two generations not only represent the contextual history of Mima but also contemporary realities set in motion since the beginning of “Naga national movement” in the first half of the 20th century. The days of trials and tribulations faced by the Naga people resisting the onslaught of Indian armed forces attempting to suppress the Naga armed insurrection. Metsilhou Livi, as described by the author, is a nonagenarian of different breed who not only has sharp memory but also is capable of contextualizing the entire history of traditional underground beekeeping.
Apart from the details of traditional beekeeping, the author''s insightful coverage of Metsilhou Livi''s life indicates the fact that when one writes about an occupation, there is no escape from understanding the socio-political context under which we all are placed. No wonder then, the “history of Naga national movement” was also a part of Metsilhou Livi''s life. Yes, he had spent his days as an underground (''national worker'') too and perhaps for many years, an individual like underground beekeeping expert Metsilhou Livi will continue to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs based on the rich skills and resources of the land. It is indeed a mission. NBHM and the team members are not only passionate about what they do but also know where they are heading.
(Photo credit: NBHM)
No comments:
Post a Comment