Nikolay Miklouho-Maclay Jr., the great-nephew of the famous ethnographer, continues the work of his ancestor in Papua New Guinea, but in the spirit of the 21st century. As TASS reports with reference to the press service of the Russian Academy of Sciences expedition “Clean Arctic – Vostok-77”, it provides residents of remote villages with computers and smartphones.
The namesake of the famous traveler, who lives in St. Petersburg, heads the Center for the Study of the South Pacific Region at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His current mission is to help Papuans connect to modern communications.
Elena Esina, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Nature and People,” notes the continuity in the activities of the two Miklukho-Maklayevs: “If the older one brought them axes, the younger one helps with connecting cellular communications.”
To implement this initiative, Miklouho-Maclay Jr. founded a special fund. The funds are used to purchase smartphones and computers that will allow village residents to access the Internet, telemedicine and other important modern technologies.
It Is interesting that the connection between Russia and these remote corners of Oceania has not been interrupted for a century and a half. According to Miklouho-Maclay Jr., local residents still keep the memory of his famous ancestor and even use some Russian words that the great ethnographer taught them in the 19th century. For example, the word “axe” has become firmly established in their vocabulary.
