GUWAHATI: Two Journalists from Guwahati have secured the prestigious Best Film award in the 'Professional Filmmakers & Film Studios' category at the 'Green Frames: VATAVARAN Short Film Competition and Festival 2023.'
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The duo Barasha Das and Surajit Sharma, received recognition for their documentary titled 'Mountain Agriculture Marvel,' highlighting a distinctive agricultural practice in Nagaland.
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The award ceremony, organised by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) with support from the US Consulate General, Mumbai, took place in Bhopal on March 5. Barasha Das and Surajit Sharma, representing Mongabay-India, clinched the top honor, showcasing their work in environmental preservation and climate advocacy.
The 'Green Frames: VATAVARAN Short Film Competition and Festival 2023' aims to acknowledge outstanding contributions in the field of environmental preservation and climate awareness. It emphasises the critical importance of conservation efforts, climate adaptation, and mitigation strategies, while also promoting positive stories that demonstrate how individuals, companies, and communities address environmental challenges.
The winning documentary by Barasha Das and Surajit Sharma explores the 'Ruza' – a traditional water harvesting system in Kikruma village, Nagaland. The Ruza method ingeniously harnesses runoff water in ponds, employing gravity-based irrigation techniques. Positioned strategically at higher elevations, these water harvesting ponds are connected to lower-elevation fields through narrow drains. This indigenous knowledge system, practiced for nearly a century, supports integrated farming, including forestry, horticulture, agriculture, fishery, and animal husbandry.
Talking to the media, Barasha Das said, "We are truly honored to receive the best film award at the ‘Green Frames: VATAVARAN Short Film Competition and Festival 2023.’ Our film ‘Mountain Agriculture Marvel’ aimed to shed light on the remarkable agricultural practices in Nagaland, specifically the ‘Ruza’ water harvesting system in Kikruma village."
"Our journey in creating this film has been incredibly rewarding. The film not only captures the beauty of Nagaland’s traditional water harvesting but also emphasizes the need for sustainable agricultural practices. We are grateful to Mongabay-India for providing a platform to share these stories, and we hope our work inspires others to explore and adopt eco-friendly solutions for a more sustainable future," added Surajit Sharma.
In a gesture of appreciation, Barasha Das and Surajit Sharma dedicated the award to the Chakhesang farmers of Kikruma.