 |
| Two young enthusiasts take pictures of butterflies at Namdapha. A Telegraph picture |
Tryst with butterflies through the lens
For 20 students of five schools in Miao of Arunachal Pradesh, life presented itself in myriad colours.
The students were invited to attend a unique programme — Breakfast with Butterflies — as part of the Butterfly India Meet at Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh recently.
Experts took the children to the nearby fields as rain restricted movement to distant areas, to give them some basic information about the beautiful creatures living around us.
Some senior photographers provided an opportunity to the schoolchildren to try their tiny hands on zoom lenses and also acquainted them with photography techniques.
The children could not believe their luck when they got the chance to actually click photographs with the cameras.
J.M. Garg, an Indian icon in Wikipedia for his submission of over 8,000 pictures in different nature categories, was amazed by the diversity of Arunachal Pradesh.
“I am taking another trip to this wonderland soon, where ecology appears still intact, while people from other parts of the country are struggling to breathe fresh air in a polluted environment,” he added. “The event was held for the thirteenth time in various locations of India and this is the second time we have got the opportunity to explore Arunachal Pradesh in the Northeast,” Butterfly India group moderator Vijay Barve said.
Barve thanked Arif Siddiqui, programme co-ordinator and photographer, whose pictures on butterflies drew the attention of nature enthusiasts worldwide towards Arunachal Pradesh.
“People are desperate to come to Arunachal Pradesh for its wonderful wildlife, but we could not entertain many owing to limitations in accommodation,” he added.
 |
| Aasthajita at the album release function |
Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary appreciated the efforts of children from Mawlynnong, known as the cleanest village in Asia, in keeping the hamLet clean and green. Mooshahary invited the schoolchildren and representatives from Mawlynnong to Raj Bhavan on July 19, for a glimpse of the heritage site.
The governor recently visited the village and encouraged the residents.
He discussed the methods of sustaining the name earned by the village and to preserve its natural identity.
Local legislator Donkupar Massar, along with his wife Grace Mary Kharpuri, who is also a member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, accompanied the governor. Mooshahary also congratulated the representatives and the headman of Mawlynnong on their efforts to keep the village clean.
Nestling in this pristine hill state along the Indo-Bangladesh border and situated nearly 90km from Shillong, Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills offers many interesting sights.
n A song by Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha has been rendered in Hindi, adding a new dimension to the timeless compositions of the cultural icon. Lending voice to the song is the wonder kid from Assam, Aasthajita, who has already sung compositions of Bhupen Hazarika and others.
The number — Jeevan Ke Aakash Mein — is a translation of the original Assamese number Moor Jeevanor Akaaxote, a popular song of hope and dreams, written and composed by Rabha way back in 1937. Sameer, one of Bollywood’s most respected lyricists, translated the song.
The number has been included in a new album — Aa Gaya Savera — which was released on July 19 in Mumbai by music director Anandji and lyricist Sameer.
The album includes songs on different themes like world peace (Iss Jahaan Ke Liye), children’s dreams (Nanhe Nanhe Sapnay) and hectic life of today’s schoolkids (Aa Gaya Savera) — all compositions of Alaap Dudul Saikia, a Mumbai-based music director from Assam.
