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Temjen Toy speaks at the inauguration of the Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts, on November 23 in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 23 (EMN): A new college, Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts, was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Temjen Toy on Saturday at Khrutshiezhü, below Phezhu Jotsoma, in Kohima.
Speaking at the programme, Toy said that the Nagas have talents in music. “Nagas are naturally gifted in singing and in playing different instruments.”
‘Today our students can learn music in our own state without going out and it is a great privilege that our students are actually studying music here,’ the government servant said. “No matter how talented we are, the raw talent that we have is not enough. That raw talent needs to be honed into skills and that is what the world demands today.”
Hovithal Sothu, project director of the government’s Task Force for Music and Arts (Tafma) said the “Tafma has been instituted and is in place and today, we do have a vibrant music system in the state of Nagaland.”
‘Music was not given much attention and few who made through the hard times continued to strive in Nagaland and still today, they continue,” he said. ‘Music is a part of the Naga society and all the Nagas are singers and it only depends on how well-trained one is.’ He challenged the people to give equal importance to music when it comes to careers.
According to Sothu, Nagaland will be seeing a lot of music shows during the Hornbill Festival. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations is sending a Hungarian group to perform at the festival while bands from the UK and South Korea besides the best bands from the state’s districts will also be performing in Dimapur.
Talking about the condition of musicians in Nagaland, he said there are many musicians but they are meagrely paid. He requested the elders to engage local musicians but also pay them well. “Government service for musicians is out of question now and they are all entrepreneurs as of now and they are doing their best and fighting their ways through,” he remarked.
Vivee Peseyie, dean at Margaret Shishak School of Music, said music students, when they get their degree, “employment is not a problem as there is always a job for them and so we should encourage our students to pursue.”
‘Musicians need to learn their traits properly as we need to get to a high level for people will look up to them. Practice hard and be the best because nobody would like to employ somebody who is not good at their art,’ she said in encouragement.