Barikupar Paswett

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will facilitate research, and documentation of the folklore and oral narratives based on the collections at the Ever Living Museum. This project is a collaboration with the Ever Living Museum, Shillong, Meghalaya. Established in 2015, the Ever-Living Museum in Shillong, Meghalaya, is a private initiative owned and curated by Mr Kyntiewbor War. It is nestled in the village of Mawshbuit, a thirty-minute drive from Shillong. The collections and artefacts on display reflect the dedication and efforts of Mr War to preserve the material culture of the region and the priceless contributions of well-wishers. The diverse nature of the collection allows us a glimpse into the region, its people and their living. Barikupar Paswett is the Project Coordinator for this project.

Barikupar Paswett is a trained folklorist. He has a Masters in Folkloristics from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Folkloristics on the topic “Khasi Folklore and Conservation of Nature: An analytical Study, from North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong in Meghalaya''. In addition to this, he has completed two certificate courses in Khasi and Jaintia percussion from the Department of Arts and Culture, Meghalaya. The Project Coordinator has volunteered as a Research Associate on a North-Eastern Council project titled Folklore, Wildlife and Nature. Given his research interest, training in folkloristics and work experience, Barikupar is best suited to be Project Coordinator for this Foundation Project of IFA.

Drawing from the collection at the Ever Living Museum, the Project Coordinator will work with a selected group of artefacts to record all the stories behind them and the encounters and experience that Mr War had while collecting these objects. Being from the region, the Project Coordinator, wants to foreground the cultural heritage of these objects, which will provide invaluable insights into the world of folklore and material culture. At the onset, Barikupar will identify certain objects from the collection. The identifying process of the object will link each object to its story that will help the museum in the long run. It is of dire importance to record the narratives associated with the collection, for which the Project Coordinator will be travelling to the sites where these objects were produced, and interact with the communities to understand its cultural significance. These narratives will provide a deeper insight about the artefacts and their significance in the culture of the people. In addition to this he also proposes to create a map to trace the location of expeditions undertaken by Mr War and locate the sites from where the objects were collected. Through the audio-visual documentation of the folklore, experiences of Mr War and the mapping exercise, this foundation project reinforces the importance of community knowledge. It also creates an opportunity for the museum to serve as a bridge between research and the endangered traditions and culture of the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities of Meghalaya.

Barikupar has divided the one year project term into phases starting with a thorough study of the museum collection. A close examination of the museum objects and interaction with Mr War and others at the museum will enable the Project Coordinator to make the selection of the objects. Post selection of the objects, Barikupar, will embark to record Mr War narrating stories, knowledge and reflections on his most memorable artefacts. At this stage, the mapping exercise will also be developed based on these conversations, to identify the geographical origins of the artefacts in the collection. 

Based on these two outcomes, in the next phase, the Project Coordinator will travel to sites to collect and document narratives and stories associated with the selected artefacts. This will involve interviewing local communities and individuals who may have knowledge or legends connected to the items in the museum. Barikupar in his proposal demonstrates the value of consent, respect and sensitivities that is essential to engaging with indigenous community knowledge.

The outcomes of the project will be a comprehensive map of the travels and expeditions undertaken by Mr Kyntiewbor War showing the locations of acquisition and discovery; recorded narrations and associated folklore of selected number of artefacts; audio-visual recordings and updated information on the origins of these objects; and outreach programmes with community members and experts to showcase and create awareness about the living culture beyond the premises of the museum. The Project Coordinator’s final deliverables to IFA along with the final reports will be the audio-visual documentation of the oral narratives, the map, the documentation of the folklore, and photos and video documentation of all the programmes.

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.