ART & CULTURE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE
Our Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 4
Parliamentary Secretary for Art & Culture, Printing & Stationery Kropol Vitsu today called upon the Art and Culture department to encourage research workers to trace back the origin of the Naga people as there is no written history about the migration of Naga people.
Addressing the golden jubilee celebration of the department at the newly constructed Folk Amphitheater within the Directorate complex at Bayavü Hill here, he said the department has to take the lead in promoting, preserving and protecting traditional values.
Maintaining that till date there has been no one to conduct research on the migration of the Naga people, he said it is high time that deeper research be conducted to trace the migration history of the Naga people.
It is believed that the Nagas have migrated from the sea-shore because of the usage of sea-shells since time immemorial, he said but the department has to play a pivotal role in encouraging research activities to find out the place of migration of Naga people for the benefit of posterity.
The Parliamentary Secretary expressed happiness over the department for attaining 50 years of existence and continuing yeoman service in helping the rest of the country and world in understanding the significance of different traditional practices and usage of ornaments and tools by the Naga people.
“Inspite of the diversity Naga people are united by our culture and despite speaking different dialects, we have affinity to showcase the rich tradition, which is being properly done by the department,” he said.
Maintaining that 50 years is a long period, he acknowledged the services rendered by those in service and retired employees. He also asked the employees to rededicate themselves to make the department one of the best in the State so that people would benefit from the preservations of the department.
The Parliamentary Secretary also unveiled the jubilee monolith and inaugurated the newly constructed Folk Amphitheater of the department.
Kropol also maintained that due to fund constraints, the government is unable to sanction creation of the department in three districts – Longleng, Peren and Kiphire. Nonetheless, he expressed hope that the department will be able to establish offices in these districts at the earliest.
Launching the official website of the department, Commissioner & Secretary I. Himato Zhimomi said the department is based on the goal of cultivation of the Naga society. Stating that it is an enormous task, he said, “We have to encourage each other to take into stride to carry forward and handover the culture and tradition of the Naga people to the future generation.”
Director, Art & Culture, Vevo Sapuh, in his introductory speech, said over the years, the functions of the department has grown to include promotion of culture, promotion and administration of library services, archaeology, archives, registration of antiquities and art treasures, research and publications, promotion and development of visual arts, development of museums and heritage conservation and restoration.
The past 50 years, he said, have seen infrastructural development of the department with an international class World War II Museum established at Kisama, Multi-Cultural complexes at Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Dimapur.
He also stated that in order to gain a deeper understanding of the Nagas, the department has started an ambitious project with the Anthropological Society of Nagaland on cultural history, ethnography and physical characteristics of the Nagas. He said eight volumes of the research findings will be released during the forthcoming Hornbill Festival.
He then said recently, the department has started preliminary investigation for cultural mapping, which aims to provide a feasibility report for strategies, policies and action plan for protection and promotion of cultural industries in the State.
Retired Director, Art & Culture and Chief Information Commissioner Nagaland, Kevinino Meru released the Jubilee souvenir.
The celebration was marked by dances and songs presented by different cultural troupes from Pochury, Khaimniungan and Zeliang tribes. The welcome song was presented by choir from Chakhesang Baptist Church Ministers’ Hill Kohima. Art Executive Vilalhou Noudi tendered the vote of thanks.
