Christian Faith, Tribal Identity & Arunachal's Anti-Conversion Law
In this documentary, Newsreel Asia producer Harshita Rathore travels to Arunachal Pradesh to understand the decades-long debate surrounding the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (AFRA), 1978. Through conversations with leaders from the Christian community and the Donyi Polo movement, she explores why the law was introduced, why it remained dormant for 46 years, and why its revival has sparked fresh protests after the Gauhati High Court's 2024 directive. The documentary also examines the history of religious conversion in Arunachal Pradesh, the revival of indigenous faiths like Donyi Polo, and the larger question of whether faith can ever be regulated by law.
Why Are People Migrating from Arunachal’s Border Villages?
More than 500 villages along Arunachal’s border areas have seen depopulation, with families leaving behind their ancestral homes, ways of life and cultures. With even the most basic facilities missing, many people say they had no option but to move in search of a better future for the next generation. But this migration — not by choice, but because of circumstance — has left deep wounds of neglect.
Inside Arunachal’s Systemic Corruption
From buying votes with lakhs of rupees during elections to contractors allegedly paying massive commissions to secure government projects, corruption runs deep across Arunachal Pradesh. Because Arunachal Pradesh shares an international border with China, the central government allocates huge funds for infrastructure and development. But where does that money really go?
This documentary explores how corruption in Arunachal is no longer limited to politicians or officials alone — many believe it has evolved into an entire system involving power, money, contractors, voters, and institutions meant to ensure accountability.
Inside Arunachal’s Polygamy Problem - Part 2
In Part 2 of the story on polygamy among tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh, Nada Nampi, now an advocate, speaks about the disturbing impact this practice has on women, children, families, and society at large. When she met her husband, who had also grown up in a broken family shaped by similar circumstances, she felt she had found someone who would understand her. But some social customs are inherited in ways that the very patterns people suffer under become the ones they carry forward; and Nampi did not realise when her biggest fear would become her own reality.
Tradition of Marrying More Than One Woman | Inside Arunachal’s Polygamy Problem
In Arunachal Pradesh, a predominantly tribal state known for its rich cultural heritage, certain traditional practices continue to shape everyday life. However, as conversations around rights, equality, and justice grow, many of these customs are being questioned. One such practice is polygyny—the system where a man can have more than one wife.