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KOHIMA — The Governor’s At Home and Governor’s Award for distinction in the field of Arts, Music and Literature 2023, was held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.
This year, the recipients of the awards are Kevisedenuo Margaret Zinyu (Arts), K Lolo (Arts, Pottery), Among Jamir (Music) and K3M Band (Music).
Extending greetings on the occasion, which also coincided with the 77th Independence Day, Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan in his address congratulated the award winners whose "hard work" have been recognised and acknowledged.
"Your contributions have made our state richer and have made us feel proud. This award is a testament to your talents and hard work and I hope it will be a motivation for you to achieve greater heights in life," Ganesan said.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The governor underlined the country's uniqueness as a melting pot of religions, races and cultures, stating that such diversity extends to areas like arts, music, dance and cuisine, which contribute to India’s rich cultural heritage.
Despite this diversity, Ganesan said the country has become the world's largest democracy. He also apprised how India has historically nurtured arts, literature and dance, leading to the emergence of remarkable talents celebrated globally.
The current government supports cultural heritage through initiatives like the Ministry of Culture's scholarship scheme, he added.
Mentioning Nagaland, a state known for its festivals, music and dances, Ganesan said that through the Hornbill Festival and other tribal celebrations, Nagas have showcased their rich culture internationally, even while the state brims with artistic talents.
He further emphasised the need to offer ample opportunities to the youth to develop in various fields as knowledge is not confined to academics alone.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also spoke on the occasion, recalled the inception of the "Year of Youth Empowerment" initiative during discussions with the then Governor Shyamal Datta back in 2003, which gave birth to the concept of recognising excellence in music, art and literature.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Pointing out that the tribal communities have diligently preserved their “profound heritage” since ancient times and even through the era of British colonisation, Rio highlighted the cultural diversity of the region and also underscored the presence of 40 distinct Naga tribes across India and Myanmar.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1] [bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]Noting the exceptional talent among the state's youth, Rio proudly shared that it has been two decades since the commencement of the prestigious Governor's Award.
He announced that to date these awards have been bestowed to 89 individuals who have showcased remarkable achievements in their respective domains.
Reiterating the government's commitment to collaborating with the awardees, the chief minister expressed the collective aim to foster a dynamic Nagaland while reminding the recipients that such honours are accompanied by significant responsibilities.
Rio also highlighted the success of the Hornbill Festival and said the festival is a harmonious amalgamation of diverse tribal celebrations and events which showcase an array of traditional elements, including captivating performances, intricate handicrafts, ethnic attire and native cuisine.
This festival has garnered global attention, becoming a source of inspiration worldwide, Rio said.
Kevisedenuo Margaret Zinyu (Arts), K Lolo (Arts, Pottery), Among Jamir (Music) and K3M Band (Music) were conferred the Governor’s Award for distinction in the field of Arts and Music 2023.
Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan, in the presence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and other officials, handed over the awards to the recipients, during the Governor’s At Home and award ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.
An alumna of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, she is a designer and entrepreneur, the Founder of Studio Predilection, URA Collective Weaving and Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd.
Zinyü embarked on her journey into the realm of craft and design initiatives with the label "Woven Threads," focusing on the indigenous people of Nagaland. She also serves as the Coordinator for the Tribal Design Forum (Nagaland).
Zinyü has garnered numerous awards and recognitions, such as the EDIDA ELLE Decor 2020 — Fabrics, the World Crafts Council Award (WCC) of Excellence for Handicrafts 2018 South Asia Sub-region, Dhriiti — The Courage Within (an NGO) YOU Start North-East 2018, and Vasundhara — NE Women Entrepreneur 2014-15.
Her design studio collaborates with cooperative societies and like-minded individuals in the sustainable handloom and handicraft sectors. Her industry experience encompasses manufacturing, museum and space design, as well as colour and materials work within the car design industry.
K Lolo belongs to the Longpfurr community from Mimi village within the Melomika range, which borders Myanmar. Mimi village, situated in the Kiphire district, is renowned for its unique talent in crafting earthen pots. Despite the passage of time, remnants of this tradition still endure, thanks to a handful of determined individuals who strive to keep this art form alive.
Pottery, an ancient art, has helped humanity preserve the ethnicity of a particular society.
Lolo, who inherited the traditional pottery-making skill from her mother, did not have the privilege of attending school due to poverty and the scarcity of educational institutions in her area.
After years of dedicated practice and experience, Lolo has refined her skills to a high degree. She now firmly believes that she can contribute significantly to the preservation of this traditional pottery style by teaching and generously sharing her knowledge with the younger generations and women's groups within the village.
Pottery-making is exclusively practised by women and is considered one of the most precious gifts a mother can bestow upon her daughter. While pottery originally served utilitarian purposes, for women, mastering this skill also conferred elevated social status. Both Lolo and her students are resolute in their commitment to sustaining this time-honoured tradition. The Department of Art & Culture has recognised her work, and several pieces are on display at the State Museum.
His musical journey began at the tender age of 9 and since then he has performed in more than 26 countries with many Indian singers and Hindi Film music producers. He went to Pune to pursue music and academic studies, there he was quickly assimilated into the live music scene due to his bass playing skills, stellar grooves combined with modern bass techniques like slapping and tapping.
With the Blues Band - Black Wings he won an Inter-City Rock and Blues contest. His first international gig began when he was hired by Grammy-listed, award-winning flute player Bikramjit Singh to tour with his band. His bass-playing skills led many musicians like the late Derek Julien, (one of India's best electric guitar players) to hire him. He was also the bass player of choice for many international musicians touring India namely, composer Karen Lafferty, Benny Prasad and American Flamenco guitar player Roni Benise (Emmy Award winner).
As a member of a Hindi rock band called Lambada, he took part in a competition of rock bands from India in the reality TV show 'Idea Rocks India 2' aired on Colors TV. He won the competition with his band, becoming the first Naga to win a reality show on National TV.
In 2010, he got a big offer to join India's biggest rock band of the time Agnee. In 2012, the band composed the music for the Indian release of Marvel's film, The Avengers. He is also the first Naga to have performed for the most coveted MTV Unplugged series twice with Agnee.
In 2016, he got his first major break in the Hindi film music industry when Pritam Chakraborty one of the biggest music composers in the country invited him to join his band and to date, he is the official bass guitarist of Pritam's band.
K3M is a Wokha-based mash metal band formed in 2008. They blend soft melodic ballads with heavy/speed metal and Goth rock. The band, with the present members, was originally formed in 1996 and played cover songs under the band’s name of "Sound Craft" from 1996 to 2007.
In 2008, the band was renamed the K3M band. They recently released their official debut music video, and are currently working on their original songs that will be released shortly. K3M has perfected their signature sound and will now be sharing original music with their fans.
The band has had the privilege of performing with international artists such as Jennifer Batten and the renowned guitarist Chandresh Kudwa. They have also served as the opening act for international artists like Petra's John Schlitt and the Smokie band. Furthermore, they have won numerous awards in both district and state-level competitions.
In addition to their musical accomplishments, the band has taken part in numerous shows dedicated to charity, promotional events, and awareness campaigns addressing various social issues.
To encourage and promote upcoming talents, the band also conducts free music seminars, school music competitions and provides a platform for interactive sessions with the youth in the music and entertainment industry. The band has been playing music for the last 26 years and is still active to this day.