To record and capture stories about life experiences, history and folklores told by my grandmother through writing and illustration.
Scenario
Mrs. Venera is an 80 year old lady living in Kohima. She has two maids that live with her, and three dogs. She spends most of her time reading and watching television. She is very fond of cooking and gardening but now with her old age she doesn’t have the strength to do too much of it. However, compared to others her age, she is still very active and enjoys her cooking once in a while. She is a very generous lady and her neighbors find her very affectionate and sweet.
She has 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Her children are all married and well settled in different parts of the country, where as most of the grandchildren are in boarding school. Mrs. Venera feels very proudly of her family and is always eager to hear from them. She gets to see them only once or twice a year during the family get togethers. But when they do visit, everyone is involved in their own things. They don’t always have the time to sit around to share stories and enjoy family time like they use to years ago. Everyone is busy with different activities, like catching up with old friends or even being online on facebook.
Problem:
During the young days of my parents and grandparents, there was more time for family. There weren’t any distractions like technology today. Very often they would sit together and listen to stories and this way family life was more sustained and nurtured. But now people are so busy with their lives, no one has the time or patience to sit and listen to stories, especially ones told by our parents or grandparents. Everyone has their own pursuits and interests.
Need and Proposition:
Many stories have been passed on for generations, some from life experiences. Stories like these strengthen the bond in the family or clan. And to be the generation that does not pass on these incredible stories would be a complete shame.
I have always wanted to spend time with my grandmother, whom in our dialect we call Azao. She has many stories to tell, both life experiences and folklores. A lot of times when there is a family get together, she will remember stories and with her eyes closed (to concentrate), she would tell us all kinds of stories – ones that are funny, ones that teach life’s values and others from different experiences.
I have been in boarding school for half of my schooling years, and although I have no regrets being in a boarding school, this is one reason why I have not had the time to spend with her and listen to her stories. Holidays were always a rush and there is never enough time to sit around to share.
In a newspaper article it stated that “Senior Citizens are a source of Wisdom. They are a storehouse of traditional knowledge and continue to be respected as a source of wisdom.
Older persons still play a major role in the social structure of our family system. They are regarded as custodian of age old wisdom, tradition, culture and heritage. Due to wisdom gained through experience of long life, they still hold higher place in our family and society. They may have less knowledge of worldly things, which keep changing every moment, but they have solid insight of values”.
My Grandma is now 87 and still active but with age catching up, I want to be able to capture stories when her memory is still strong. There is much to learn from her and unlike many stories that were never passed on; I want to be able record these stories and gain from her knowledge and wisdom.
Having a very tight diploma project schedule, I may not be able to spend a lot of time with her, but it will allow me to focus on documenting some of her important stories.
For example:
• Azao was born on 7th April 1923 in Impur, in the First Mission Center in the Naga Hills established by American Missionaries.
• Village folklores
• Lessons on history
• She was the first woman evangelist among the Ao Nagas and travelled on foot to about 50 villages to teach.
• She was engaged for 10 years because my granddad Obu was studying.
• My granddad (Obu) was among the first graduates in Nagaland. As a government official he played a pivotal role for the statehood of Nagaland and interacted with many National leaders. He was also known as the architect of modern Nagaland. My grandma was the silent observer, source of strength and support and backbone of the family.
• She also met many Indian leaders, leaders of the Naga Movement like Phizo in London, Rani Gaidilu – woman freedom fighter.
• She is very creative and gifted with cooking, gardening, crafts etc.
A lot of important family stories get lost or change from year to year, person to person, but I think one must make an effort to record and pass on these priceless stories for generations to come.
Azao is also the best Naga cook I know. She makes all kinds of authentic dishes. Every visit I shamelessly look forward to the food, be it tea time or a meal.
My granddad had many high postings, and he would have guests from the Center and other regions very frequently. A guest list of 20 -30 persons at an hours notice was not uncommon, but Azao always managed to prepare a meal in that short notice. Every Sunday they would also have a family feast with cousins and other close relatives. There was always food in the house. I want to also record some of her special and secret recipes because like stories even these recipes get lost.
My grandparents use to entertain a lot of guest and this is one such occasion with overseas visitors to the home.
My grandma accompanying my granddad on one of his official tours.
Challenge
If I had written and recorded my grandma’s stories before coming to Srishti, it would have turned out completely different from the one I plan to work on. Now being exposed to art and design, I want to make it more interesting by not only using photographs and stories but also through illustrations.
Considering the distance and the cost, I will need at least the first 3 weeks to go to Shillong to collect and record information. Accumulating all my research material in such a short time would be challenging. Having so many resources for my research, I will end up with a lot of conflicting information and verifying that will be a time consuming process as well.
Process
To go to Shillong where my grandma lives to collect and research and return to work in Bangalore straight after. There are also a lot of relatives in Shillong if I may need anything after the trip and my grandma is just a phone call away.
Record and document the stories told by my grandma. Rewrite and combine the stories with the recipes in an interesting narrative.
Collect photographs from albums and other art and culture departments.
Illustrate from photographs and stories.
My Research process will also involve getting inspiration from other books, films and blogs.
Timeline
The challenge is to get all the information from Azao and other resources in the first 3 to 4 weeks.
In the next 3 weeks I plan to assemble all my information and decide on my final product.
The final 5-6 weeks will be dedicated for creating, designing and publishing my final product.
Research questions
• Many of the traditional practices are not always recorded especially routinely practices and ones from remote areas. Only significant events or practices get recorded. Writers either do not have access to these places or one needs a dedicated team like the National Geographic. How does one retrace, recover and save these records?
• Nagaland has a rich culture. There are various religious and traditional practices. What are some, how did they start and what are the reasons for these practices? What are some of the traditional cuisines?
• Society evolves and changes according to their personal liking to the environment. Who are the people that can recall and share the knowledge that are not normally obtained and sought?
• I know my grandmother has not changed. And elderly people are the best records of events that happened in the past.
• What are the stories she would like to pass on to record the past traditions and prepare for the future?
• What are some of the stories/folklores that you remember that have been passed on by your parents and grandparents?
• My grandma has been the silent observer behind my granddad’s work with the government. As a witness in the formative stages of the state, what were her observations? Stories about the Naga movement and the leaders.
• What was her life like? What were her thoughts, interest and how did she support her family?
• What were her observations in traditional approaches and in new religion?
• What are the value systems she observed that might have changed since her time?
• What are her feelings now?
• What is my understanding of village life and folklore from the stories told by my grandmother?
• Questions regarding the Naga cuisine that she has practiced.
• Why my grandmother? Granddads have records but not their wives.
• How will my work/style be different from other books? How will this contribute to the knowledge in Northeast?
Other Resources
• My mom and other family members.
• My Grandma’s peers
• People in the village
• Old photographs.
• Art and culture department Nagaland
• The Impur Museum – where my grandma has donated some of her personal items for display there.
• Internet, Design books.
Learning outcomes
• Time management
• Information design
• Researching skills
• Communication - The art of listening, Articulation
• Drawing skills
• Presentation
• Showing new mediums to record and document
• Learning about oneself
• Relating my art and design to my family, strengthening and understanding bond through one common channel.
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