KarbiAnglong TODAY

31/10/2025

Lucknow Inspector Dhananjay Singh was caught red-handed accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe to allegedly drop a gangrape accused’s name from an FIR.

31/10/2025

Beyond Boring Romance: Can Karbi Cinema Find Its Voice?

Is Karbi Cinema Wasting Its Own Culture on Weak Love Stories?

| The Karbi film industry, a vibrant but fledgling force, is grappling with an identity crisis. Born from a collective desire to see Karbi stories on screen, it has produced a body of work fueled by passion and local pride. Yet, this passion is often not enough. The industry is frequently held back by a trifecta of fundamental weaknesses: recycled romantic scripts, timid and repetitive acting, and underdeveloped direction. For many viewers, the experience can be uncomfortable, watching a cinema that seems trapped in a cycle of mediocrity, unable to unlock its immense potential.

This is not a moment for despair, but for honest reflection and bold action. To move from local curiosity to an internationally respected art form, Karbi cinema must critically diagnose its lacunae and strategically chart a new course. The path forward requires a radical shift, away from safe formulas and toward authentic, professionally executed storytelling that is unapologetically Karbi.

The core issues plaguing Karbi cinema are not unique; they are common to many emerging regional film industries. However, identifying them is the first step toward solving them.

Too often, a Karbi film begins with a familiar, tired premise: a boy and a girl fall in love, their families object, and a predictable, low stakes drama ensues. This reliance on generic romantic melodrama is the industry's greatest creative handicap. It's a "safe" formula that requires little ambition but delivers even less impact. By borrowing narratives from mainstream cinema, these films fail to offer anything new and, more tragically, they ignore the vast, untapped reservoir of stories unique to Karbi culture. This not only bores the audience but implicitly suggests that Karbi history, folklore, and contemporary social issues are not worthy of the silver screen .

Alongside weak scripts, a recurring critique is that actors often appear camera shy, unable to express themselves freely, and deliver the same one dimensional performance across multiple films. This is not a failure of individual talent but a failure of the system. Actors are not being developed; they are being used. Without a culture of professional training, rigorous rehearsals, or skilled directorial guidance, actors fall back on safe, repetitive expressions. They are not challenged to explore the inner lives of their characters because the scripts rarely give them complex characters to begin with. This cycle of stagnation creates local celebrities but fails to cultivate true artists.

Even a strong script and a talented actor can be failed by poor direction. The director's job is not just to point the camera; it is to create an environment of trust where an actor can take creative risks. A "camera shy" performance is often a sign of a director who has failed to guide their actors toward emotional truth. Financial constraints often limit access to experienced directors and professional equipment, leading to films where a compelling idea is "drowned in directorial dissonance" and technical shortcomings .

Karbi cinema does not need to reinvent the wheel; it needs to learn from the successes of other regional cinemas and from its own breakout hits like 'Kangbo Aloti'. That film's journey to the Cannes Film Festival and its distribution in the UK and China proves that the world is eager for Karbi stories, if they are told well .

The path to transformation begins with a revolution in storytelling. Authenticity must be valued over formula. Writers and directors should turn away from imitation and look inward, exploring diverse genres. They could develop historical epics based on figures like the Karbi king Rengbonghom, craft thrillers rooted in the region's complex politics, or create visually stunning fantasies from Karbi mythology. Telling stories about the urgent social and cultural issues facing the community, like land rights or the clash between tradition and modernity, would also provide fertile ground for powerful drama, as films like 'Mirbeen' and 'Wosobipo' have already shown .

To cure the "boring expression," the industry must invest systematically in its talent. The Karbi Film Society, with support from the KAAC, should organize intensive, bootcamp style acting workshops in Diphu, focusing on camera technique, character development, and voice modulation. While sending talent to the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune is an aspirational goal, immediate impact can be made by leveraging closer regional institutions. Promising actors should be encouraged and sponsored to attend the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film & Television Institute (DBHRGFTI), National School of Drama (NSD) and the FTII's regional campus in Arunachal Pradesh. Fostering a local theatre scene is also essential, as the stage is the ultimate training ground for actors, teaching them discipline and emotional range that translates to a more confident screen performance .

Finally, this passion must be paired with professionalism. Filmmakers must learn to master the international festival circuit, which serves as the gateway to global recognition . A dedicated fund should be created to help with submission fees and travel, allowing them to showcase their work and secure distribution deals. They should also target OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, which are actively seeking diverse regional content. With high quality subtitling, a well made Karbi film can find a global audience overnight. This must be complemented by training in the technical skills of filmmaking, such as modern cinematography, sound design, and editing, to elevate the overall quality to an admirable standard.

The criticisms leveled against Karbi cinema are not meant to tear it down, but to build it up. The formulaic scripts, the timid performances, the technical shortcomings-these are the growing pains of a young-industry. By embracing its authentic voice, investing in its artists, and professionalizing its craft, Karbi cinema can move beyond its current limitations. The goal is not just to make movies, but to create a cinema that is a true and powerful reflection of the Karbi soul-a cinema the world will be eager to watch.

30/10/2025

Justice Surya Kant will be the CJI for nearly 15 months, starting from November 24. He will demit office on February 9, 2027 on attaining the age of 65 years.

30/10/2025

In a shocking breach of trust, a Bhopal DSP has been accused of stealing ₹2 lakh and a mobile phone from the home of a friend. Trust, theft, and a police uniform. Bhopal DSP Kalpana Raghuwanshi is under investigation.

29/10/2025

Tripuri Had a Written Language for Centuries. What Happened to It Will Enrage You

| The story of a language is inextricably linked to the story of its people their culture, their power, and their survival. For the Borok people of Tripura, their language, Kokborok, stands at the center of a centuries old struggle for identity. At the heart of this struggle is the memory of a lost treasure: an ancient script known as Koloma. This paper delves into the history of the Koloma script, tracing its origins in a royal court, its gradual decline through political upheaval and cultural shifts, and the factors responsible for its eventual extinction, which continue to fuel linguistic debates in Tripura today.

Origin: A Script for Kings and Chronicles
Oral tradition and historical records indicate that Kokborok, formerly known as Tipra kok, has been a spoken language for millennia. Its written form, the Koloma script, is believed to have been developed as early as the 1st century AD. The creation and use of Koloma were primarily associated with the royal court of the Tripuri kings.

The most significant work composed in this script was the Rajratnakar, or Rajmala, a chronicle of the Tripuri kings. This book, a vital record of the kingdom's history and lineage, was first written in Kokborok using the Koloma script by the scholar and priest Durlabendra Chantai. The existence of the Rajratnakar demonstrates that Koloma was not merely a symbolic alphabet but a functional script used for official historiography and royal documentation.

Decline and Disappearance: A Story of Turmoil, Translation, and a Goat
The decline of the Koloma script began in the 14th century, a period marked by significant political turmoil. During this era of instability, it is believed that a substantial body of historical material written in Koloma was either burned or buried, dealing a devastating blow to the script's continuity.

This physical loss was compounded by a pivotal cultural shift in the 15th century. Under the reign of King Dharma Manikya I, two Brahmin scholars, Sukreswar and Vaneswar, were commissioned to translate the Rajmala from Kokborok into Sanskrit and subsequently into Bengali. This act, while preserving the historical narrative, effectively shifted the language of prestige and record keeping away from the indigenous Kokborok and its Koloma script. The original Koloma version of the Rajratnakar has since been lost, leaving only the Bengali and Sanskrit translations as the main sources for Tripura's history.

This historical loss is also captured in a popular folk tale. According to the story, a Tripuri scholar who invented the Koloma script wrote it down on a banana leaf. When he left it unattended to answer nature's call, a goat ate the leaf, and the script was lost forever. This myth serves as a powerful cultural metaphor for the disappearance of the script a sudden, almost mundane event that led to an irreversible cultural loss.

The Final Blow: The Adoption of Bengali and Loss of Patronage
While the script was already in decline for centuries, the final and most decisive factor in its extinction was the official adoption of the Bengali script for writing Kokborok by the Kingdom of Twipra in the 19th century. This decision by the Tripura kings to favor the Bengali script for administrative and literary purposes was the coup de grâce for Koloma.

This shift in royal patronage had profound consequences:

Administrative Control: It transferred literacy and administrative power to Bengali speakers, who gained prominence in the kingdom's bureaucracy.

Cultural Dominance: The prevalence of Bengali in administration, newspapers, and eventually education, led to the further marginalization of Kokborok. Kokborok speakers, particularly the younger generations, began to adopt Bengali words and linguistic patterns, leading to an erosion of their native tongue.

Extinction: With no official status, no domain for practical use, and its literary tradition supplanted, the Koloma script became obsolete and fell completely out of use.

Therefore, responsibility for the script's extinction cannot be placed on a single person or event. It was the result of a long process involving political instability, the physical destruction of texts, a shift in literary and religious influence with the rise of Sanskrit and Bengali translators, and a final, decisive change in state policy by the monarchy that replaced Koloma with the Bengali script.

Legacy and the Modern Script Conflict
Today, Kokborok is recognized as an official language of Tripura (since 1979), but it exists in a state of linguistic paradox a language without a consensus on its script. The legacy of Koloma's extinction is a modern day "script war".

The Bengali script, due to its long history of use in the state, remains in official use.

The Roman script is strongly advocated by indigenous tribal organizations like the Tribal Students' Federation (TSF) and the TIPRA M***a party. They argue it is more accessible for education, globally recognized, and free from the cultural dominance associated with the Bengali script.

Meanwhile, there are nascent efforts to revive the ancient Koloma script itself. The Aima script, a modern alphabet developed by Hiralal Debbarma, was based on the original Koloma, representing a tangible link to the lost writing system. Reconstructing a script after more than 600 years of disuse is a monumental task, but for many in the Borok community, it is a crucial step toward decolonizing their language and reclaiming their full cultural heritage.

29/10/2025

You Won't BELIEVE Who Was Left Off the List! The NRC Excluded 19 Lakh People, and the Names Will SHOCK You

| An analysis of Assam's exclusion from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls reveals a complex interplay between the state's unique citizenship laws and the ongoing National Register of Citizens (NRC) process. The decision, while procedural, underscores the deep-seated issue of illegal immigration that has long defined Assam's political landscape.

Exclusion from Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deferred the SIR for Assam, citing the state's distinct legal framework concerning citizenship and the incomplete status of the NRC . Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar explained that Assam is governed by special provisions, primarily Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which was a product of the 1985 Assam Accord . This section sets a specific cut-off date of midnight on March 24, 1971, for determining citizenship for migrants from Bangladesh, a criterion different from the rest of India .

The ECI has indicated that a separate order for the revision of electoral rolls in Assam will be issued after the Supreme Court-monitored NRC process reaches its conclusion . This has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who label the move as "politically motivated," especially with state assembly elections scheduled for next year .

The Role and Impact of the NRC
The NRC was a comprehensive and arduous exercise aimed at identifying genuine Indian citizens in Assam and detecting individuals who migrated illegally from Bangladesh after the 1971 cut-off . The final list, published in August 2019, excluded approximately 19 lakh (1.9 million) people who could not furnish the required legacy documents to prove their or their ancestors' presence in Assam before the deadline .

The demographic breakdown of the excluded population is diverse, challenging the narrative that illegal immigration is tied to a single community . The major groups affected include:

Muslims: Approximately 7 lakh

Bengali Hindus: Approximately 5 lakh

Assamese Hindu Groups: Around 2 lakh, including communities like Koch-Rajbongshi, Das, Kalita, and Sarma.

Gorkhas: Roughly 1.5 lakh.

Other Communities: The list also includes individuals from various indigenous tribal groups and people from other parts of India .

The process itself was fraught with challenges, with reports of entire families being split, where some members were included and others were not, causing immense distress and uncertainty .

SIR vs. NRC in Addressing Illegal Immigration
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is fundamentally a process to update the list of eligible voters and is not designed to determine citizenship . Therefore, conducting the SIR in Assam would not have resolved the core issue of illegal immigration. The NRC was the specific, legally mandated mechanism intended to address this long-standing problem by creating a definitive register of citizens .

While the SIR could not have replaced the NRC, its timely completion would have provided administrative clarity by ensuring that the electoral rolls accurately reflect the current list of verified citizens. The exclusion from the SIR highlights that without a finalized NRC, creating an accurate voter list is a contentious and legally complex task.

Alternative Approaches and Future Paths
Beyond the NRC, several other measures have been discussed to manage the complexities of citizenship in Assam:

Legal Appeals: Individuals excluded from the NRC are not automatically deemed foreigners. They retain the right to appeal their case before Foreigners' Tribunals and can escalate their appeal to the High Court and the Supreme Court . This legal recourse is a critical part of the process, though it is expected to be lengthy .

Work Permits: A proposal has been considered to issue long-term biometric work permits to those who are ultimately declared non-citizens . This would grant them the right to work and earn a livelihood but would withhold political rights, such as voting or owning land .

A Step Towards Closure: For many in Assam, the NRC, despite its flaws, represented a potential end to decades of social and political turmoil fueled by the issue of illegal migration . The hope was that a credible and fair register would bring certainty and allow the state to move forward .

Ultimately, the exclusion of Assam from the SIR is a direct consequence of the unresolved legal and procedural issues stemming from the NRC. The path forward hinges on the finalization of the NRC process and the resolution of the legal challenges faced by the 19 lakh excluded individuals. The completion of this process is a necessary precursor to any subsequent administrative actions, including the comprehensive revision of the state's electoral rolls.



(Special Intensive Revision)

29/10/2025

From Majority to Minority in 70 Years: The Demographic Time Bomb That Exploded in Tripura

| A deep dive into Tripura's history reveals how large-scale migration, largely in the name of seeking asylum, has transformed the state's demography, reducing its indigenous population to a minority. This situation offers critical lessons for neighboring Assam on the importance of stringent asylum policies and the long-term consequences of unchecked immigration.

Once a tribal-majority state, Tripura has undergone a dramatic demographic transformation over the last century. In 1881, the indigenous tribal population constituted 63.77% of the state's total population. By 2011, this figure had plummeted to just 31.80%. This seismic shift is primarily attributed to the massive influx of Bengali migrants, particularly refugees fleeing religious and economic turmoil in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) following the partition of India in 1947 and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The dominance of Bengali in the state, however, cannot be attributed to recent migration alone.

It was the official court language of princely Tripura at a time when English was the official language of Bengal, while Manikya kings promoted Bengali. According to Language Census 2011, Bengali was the mother tongue of 24.14 lakh people in Tripura.

This represents 2/3rds of the 36.74 lakh population, and almost three times of Kokborok speaking people, which is a language of the Tibeto-Burman family and the mother tongue of the largest tribal groups.

This migration has led to significant socio-political and economic challenges. The indigenous communities, who were once the majority, found themselves increasingly marginalized, leading to conflicts over land rights, political representation, and cultural identity. The strain on limited land and resources exacerbated tensions between the indigenous groups and the newly settled Bengali population. In response to these demographic changes, there have been persistent demands for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Tripura to identify genuine citizens and illegal immigrants.

Regional leaders have repeatedly voiced concerns. Pradyot Kishor Debbarma, the chief of Tipra M***a and a prominent voice for indigenous rights, has warned that the entire Northeast has become a vulnerable ground for illegal immigrants, threatening the rights and existence of native communities. He has called for unity among northeastern states to address this challenge collectively.

Lessons for Assam Tripura's experience serves as a stark cautionary tale for Assam and, more specifically, for regions like Karbi Anglong. The key lesson is that immigration policies, even when framed around humanitarian asylum, can have irreversible long-term consequences on the host region's demographic and political fabric. The social and political unrest that gripped Tripura for decades is a direct result of the failure to manage and regulate this influx.

For Assam, which has already grappled with its own complex immigration issues leading to the NRC exercise, Tripura’s history underscores the need for constant vigilance and proactive policies to protect its indigenous communities. The situation highlights the potential for ethnic friction and resource conflict when a host population feels its identity and security are under threat.

The Global Push for Stricter Asylum Policies

The challenge of balancing humanitarian responsibilities with national interests is not unique to India. In Europe and the United States, governments are increasingly adopting more stringent asylum and immigration policies in response to large-scale migration.

United States: The U.S. has seen a significant tightening of its asylum process. The Trump administration implemented restrictive measures like the "Remain in Mexico" program, which required asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while their cases were processed. While the Biden administration initially reversed some of these policies, it later introduced its own restrictive rules. These include denying asylum to migrants who cross the border without authorization or who have not first sought protection in a safe third country they transited through.

Europe: European nations are also moving towards stricter controls. Germany has considered closing its land borders, and Italy has sought to have asylum applications processed in third countries . A new European Union pact aims to fast-track the deportation process for asylum seekers whose applications are denied and may lead to the detention of up to 120,000 migrants annually.

28/10/2025

28/10/2025

| The three-day Borjan Education Mega Event, held at Amlokhi, Manja, came to a vibrant close, celebrating the spirit of learning, creativity, and youth empowerment. The initiative, spearheaded by Assam Gaurav Awardee Binong Teron, brought together students, teachers, and community leaders in a grand display of educational and cultural enthusiasm.

Throughout the event, participants showcased their talents through quiz, drawing, singing, and dance competitions, alongside cultural showcases and motivational sessions aimed at inspiring young minds.

At the valedictory ceremony, Little Flower High School emerged as the Best School, receiving a cash award of ₹20,000. Hidipi High School and Dillai High School followed with ₹15,000 and ₹10,000 respectively. Individual achievers were also honoured with cash prizes.

28/10/2025

A moment of immense pride as Karbi traditional dance is showcased on the global stage in Pattaya, Thailand! The rich heritage is shining at the 15th Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts, presented by ABSS and the Global Council of Art & Culture, an official partner of UNESCO.



Credit: Karbi Cultural Society

28/10/2025

MLA Takes 'Deep Dive' into Policy, Yamuna Unimpressed

| In a groundbreaking move for investigative governance, BJP MLA Ravi Negi decided that simply looking at the Yamuna River wasn't enough. To truly understand the pollution crisis, he embarked on an impromptu, full-body fact-finding mission by unceremoniously falling into it. The Yamuna, which has quietly endured decades of industrial waste and political promises, finally got a politician to listen, or at least, gurgle.

Onlookers were treated to a masterclass in physical comedy. One moment, Mr. Negi was delivering a passionate speech for his social media reel; the next, he was performing an avant-garde water ballet routine. His security detail, initially confused, heroically sprang into action to rescue the MLA from his sudden, unscheduled swim.

27/10/2025

Our Soil, Our Soul

| The soil of Karbi Anglong is not just earth and stone; it is the keeper of our history, the cradle of our identity. Today, this sacred ground trembles, not from the rhythm of our traditional drums, but under the weight of an unchecked invasion. A quiet, relentless encroachment on our ancestral lands threatens to erase the very essence of our existence, and our disunity is becoming the encroacher’s greatest ally.

A recent video circulating on social media captured a sentiment simmering in every village and town. We saw Daniel Langthasa, a former MAC from our neighboring Dima Hasao, calmly but firmly confronting a group of individuals who had illegally occupied land belonging to a Dimasa family. His words, a poignant reminder to respect tribal land and to first understand the sanctity of the Sixth Schedule before staking any claim, were not just for those individuals. They were a message broadcast to all who see our hills as mere real estate, and a wake up call for us.

This incident is not isolated. It is a symptom of a creeping disease. Across our homeland, illegal fences are being erected on land that has been ours for generations. Our forests are being cleared, and the demographic fabric of our home is being irrevocably altered. Each hectare lost is not just a piece of property; it is a page torn from our collective story, a heritage slipping through our fingers while we watch. The whispers of our forefathers who protected this land with their blood seem to fade with every new illegal settlement that springs up.

While this external threat grows, we find ourselves fractured. We are Karbi, Dimasa, but before all else, we are the indigenous people of this land, bound by a shared heritage and a common destiny. We cannot afford the luxury of division when the very ground beneath our feet is being stolen. The encroacher does not distinguish between our tribes; they only see land that is ripe for the taking. Why, then, do we allow our internal differences to blind us to this common danger?

Unity must be our immediate and unwavering response. It must be seen in our villages, where we stand shoulder to shoulder to protect our boundaries. It must be heard in the halls of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, where our leaders must speak with one voice, putting the protection of our land above all political gain. It must be reflected in our collective demand for the stringent enforcement of the Sixth Schedule, the constitutional shield our ancestors fought so hard to secure for us.

The time for silent anguish and fragmented efforts is over. The video of Daniel Langthasa was a spark. Let us turn it into a fire of unity that warms our people and becomes an impassable barrier to those who wish to dispossess us. Our ancestors did not preserve this land for us to lose it to apathy and internal strife. Let us stand together, firm and united, to ensure that the hills of Karbi Anglong will forever echo with the songs of our children and their children after them.