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Ganesh Mahapatra is a writer-journalist-filmaker from Orissa, India who joined Films Division (a Government of India undertaking) in 1954 as an Oriya Commentator, and retired on July 1, 1992. During his 38 year tenure as Oriya Commentator, he had spoken for over 4000 documentary films and newsreels, probably a world record. A list of his achievements follows:
Most of the documentaries listed above have been released through the Films Division distribution network in India, and some have been telecast by Doordarshan.
Ganesh Mahapatra passed away on January 25, 1997.
High above the mountains of Phulbani in Orissa, India live many primitive tribes. One of them are the Kutia Kondhs. They live in tiny villages, mostly on hilltops. Theirs is a close knit society which is fast diminishing in number.
The Kutia Kondhs practise Podhu - or shifting cultivation - using primitive methods which destroys the mountain slopes and makes it infertile in a couple of years. They have to thus move from place to place in search of fresh forest land.
Women of this tribe are active in collecting forest products. Water is scarce in the mountains, and women have to traverse long distances on foot to fetch water.
Kutia Kondhs are afraid of many dangers that lurk around them. They worship THEMAPENU, the Goddess Earth, to protect them from evil spirits and wild animals. They believe tattooing the face and limbs keeps away evil spirits.
Their marriage rituals provide entertainment for the entire village. The youth of the village revel in dancing and singing. On such occasions, drinking is a common practice.
Education and civilization are still far away from them. Yet they are content with whatever little that nature has provided, and express no desire for a change.
Tribes living in forests and mountains of Orissa, India belong to diverse races and culture. One such tribe, the Lanjiya Sauras, live on hills near Gunupur in Koraput district.
They prefer to build their huts on hilltops and avoid migrating to the plains below. Their tiny villages consist of narrow streets full of rocks all around. Huts are built close to each other to face unitedly any external dangers.
Agriculture is the mainstay, yet it has not developed any better through the ages. They use primitive wooden implements for this purpose, and practive Podhu - or shifting cultivation - which makes vast tracts barren. Soon they have to move to fresh virgin land and again reap harvests of mostly coarse grains.
Collection of forest products is yet another profitable pursuit for them. Men and women work hard during the day.
But life is not all work. They enjoy dancing and singing and perform the age-old rituals to please their Goddess Earth.
Their life is not easy, full of hardships, yet the Lanjiya Sauras are content with their lot and aspire little to grow rich materially. Their philosophy seems to be to love nature and live in harmony with it.
