enajori.com

The site Enajori stands out as a pioneer because it is the first online monthly bilingual magazine from the state of Assam in northeast India. Assam is famous for its tea and cultural diversity, but also suffers from conflict and underdevelopment. The content coverage on Enajori showcases the cultural richness of this state and includes local music, cinema, literature, wildlife and tourism, as well as e-novels. It is enabled for mobile users as well, thus extending the reach to a wider reader base. The jury commends Enajori for giving a digital home to local Assamese as well as useful resources for visitors to the state from other parts India and the outside world. Young readers will also appreciate the children’s section of the site. There are participatory components of the site as well, with sections such as Photographer of the Month. Some content is also translated into English for international readers, and earlier monthly editions of the magazine are archived. The site’s book catalogue lists publications dating back to the year 1849. In keeping with the times, there are also links to videos and soundclips of Assamese songs. The site already draws an estimated 250,000 readers each month, after less than three years of launch. The jury appreciates the scholarly contribution of the site as well as the contemporary content. The site showcases the diverse use of the Internet as a medium for both historical content (eg. chronologies) as well as participatory content (eg. user-contributed photographs). The jurors regard the site as a good example for other cultural groups also to follow, for cultural preservation and enjoyment.