My Impression of Assam, Class 11

 

My Impression of Assam:

1.      What appeal does the author made to the scholars of Assam concerning the songs and poem of the state? Why does he make this appeal?

Ans- Verrier Elwin came to Assam to see and study the art of hill people. He had lived mere than a quarter century in India but he feels that he knows very little about India. On the other hand he has lived only for a short period of four months in Assam within their short period, he has so much involved that he feels like knowing everything about Assam, its art, culture and the people. The author has been highly impressed by the chanting of old melodies songs by the youths of a Kabul village. He does not know the meaning of those songs but realises that all such songs and poems of Assam’s countryside must be collected and recorded. The author makes a sincere appeal to the scholars of Assam to make collects of the songs and poems of Assam’s countryside. These old songs are disappearing rapidly because these school boys prefer jazz music from Hollywood to their traditional songs and music some scholars must take pains to preserve the vast treasure of these songs poems, folk tales and myths.

Verrier Elwin makes an earnest appeal to the scholars of our state to record the various ancient melodies and poems found in our part of state because he considers them to be an assets and integral part of our culture. As modernity spreads such traditional things are slowly but surely been wiped out from the minds of our young generations, so in an effort to save the songs, poems and folk tales the author appeals to the scholars to record such traditional songs and poems so that these fascinating parts of our culture are not forgotten with the passage of time.

 

2.      What account does Verrier Elwin gave about the work of art and music.

Ans- Verrier Elwin who calls himself as an unconventional travellers is a British anthropologist who visited India and stayed in the north east for months. In these four months, Elwin felt deeply in love with the culture and colours of here and thus provides an account on the various aspects like culture personal decoration etc.

              He also gives a specific account on the art of work and music. To elaborate this he narrates an experience where after a very tired long climb up the most formidable mountain of Kabul village, he suddenly arrived at a scene of fantastic and unearthly beauty. In a great grove of orange trees, some thirty youths, their limbs growing golden in the setting sun, dad in rich red cloth and wearing on their heads great white crowns like loings and were marching up and down with spears and chanting ancient melodies that recalled a long forgotten world. It was a death chant and it was one that the author should be proud to have sung over his own body. However he was sadden at the thought that such songs and chants where given hardly any attention, no one takes the pain of preserving them . Since there are hardly any collection of traditional songs and poems of Assam’s countryside have been made. Thus verrier Elwin rquests the scholars to preserve this songs as they are jewel for the state.

3.      What does Verrier Elwin say about the tradition of courtesy and hospitality of the modern world.

Ans- In the modern world where courtesy and hospitality is very rare to be found. Verrier Elwin was mesmerised by this tradition which he saw among the people of  Assam. He was intoxicated with the delight of the natural scene, the grace and charm of the people. He was surprised to see the courtesy and friendliness in ordinary people from shopkeepers from the chap on the road, from officials and above all from the hill folk. He said that this tradition of hospitality and friendliness is a great and precious thing in this modern world of competition and rivalry and hurry.

4.      What did the author see in the Kabul Village?

Ans- Elwin after a long climb up to a most formidable mountain to Kabul village, he suddenly arrived at a scene of fantastic and unearthly beauty. In a great grove of orange trees he saw some thirty splendid youths, their limbs glowing golden in the setting sun, clad in rich red cloth and having on their heads great white crowns like wings, were marching up and down with spears and chanting ancient melodious that recalled a long forgotten world. It was a death chant. He felt that he would have been proud to have some over his own body when he goes to the dust.

5.      What did Mr Raymond Mortimer say as mentioned in the prose “MIOA”?

Ans- Raymond Mortimer a discerning critic who visited India and praise the people out he also spoke of the bad taste that he found. He was astonished to see that such beautiful people were fond of ugly things. He said that in too many India poems there were ugly things, ugly clothes and ugly pictures.

6.      What is like a symphony of wild flower as a/9 to author?

Ans- Elwin points out that the art of personal decoration among the hill people of North East is something that fascinates him a lot. The delicacy of touch the natural sense of beauty and intelligence in adapting things ready to hand. He observed the car ornaments made by the Kabul and Kachas from the lovely blue wings of birds. The scintillating wings of beetles are often used the natural stones and beads of coueries and flowers and in their use in the clashes, nothing is out of focus, nothing is harsh or crude. It is like a symphony of wild flowers where everything matches.

 

7.      What difference does V.Elwin draw between the game sanctuaries of Kenya and Kaziranga?

 

Ans- The writer has noticed some differences between the game sanctuaries of Kenya and Tanganyka in East Africa and the Game sanctuaries in Assam.

i.                    In East Africa there is a sort of tradition that everybody should cooperate to make the sanctuaries a success. But the public of our state do not co-operate in the same way.

ii.                  In East Africa a lot of money is spent on them and nobody dreams of poaching. But in our state, poaching is practised in an unhealthy manner due to which the total count of our species are decreasing day by day.

The animals such as giraffes, zebras, ostriches, wild elephants and even lions in groups were confidently wandering about the roads as the old two legged creatures; man was their friend in the sanctuaries of East Africa. But in our state the animals are not altogether sure that they are safe, they do not appear so readily in the public.