Statesman News Service
KALIMPONG, Jan. 5. — Pushing forth for the preservation of the ethnic culture, a production company here has begun their work for documentaries of various hill communities.
“People have thought about it but certainly the concept has never materialised till date,” proprietor of Multi-Visual Production, Mr Bikkim (Basant) Singh said.
“With the vanishing culture and traditions we have felt its need,” he said adding that it will also be an asset for the coming generation to catch a glimpse of their past culture and work for its preservation.
To begin with, the company now has identified the three hill communities of the Tamang, Rai and Lepcha’s as their initial targets. “For this specific purpose we have made up a team of 15 research people”, Mr Singh said.
The team has already begun their study over the Tamang community, since December, last year. They will now be conducting an in-depth research over the living habits of the culture. This also includes their food, clothes and their traditional playing musical instruments.
“We have also been in constant touch with respective community associations, like the All India Buddhist Tamang Association (AIBTA). Such association and their documentation will surely be playing a major role in our study”, Mr Singh said adding that the work will be two-hour-long. Plans have also been made to distribute the documentary to the Nepalese all over the world as well as to national and international television channels. While the company has been managing expenses now, the Sikkim government and the DGHC cultural department have also been approached for funds, it was informed.