Culture Study Centre Committee of Baptist College, Kohima organised an “Orientation on Documentation of Folktales” for select B.A 2nd Semester students from different tribes with Dr. R. Chumbeno Ngullie, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Nagaland University as the Resource Person.
The programme commenced with a prayer by Mr. Asilie Rürhia, Member, Culture Study Centre. In a short introduction, Convenor, Culture Study Centre, Dr. Tsenbeni stated that the the purpose of the orientation was to educate the students on the process of conducting interviews with potential elderly candidates to gather information on folktales of their own tribe and thereby to document it.
The Resource Person elaborated on the techniques, methods of collecting folk tales and features of folk tales. Speaking on the need of preliminary work, she stressed the importance of being clear about the objective and the need of understanding the cultural and personal background of the potential informants. She opined that “Interviewers need to strive for intellectual honesty” and seek best application of their skills” with questions comprising of structured, semi-structured and unstructured varieties.
The importance of proper recording equipments, a conductive, comfortable environment, time management, practice of politeness and respect, consent, good body language, verbal encouragement are part of the many elements required in the conduct of interview, she noted.
In the end, a comprehensive explanation on transcribing, indexing and archiving and preliminary steps of archiving was provided. The programme concluded with concluding remark by Dr. Videkhono Yhokha, Member, Culture Study Centre. Students from English, History, Political Science, Sociology and Commerce department attended the orientation.
