Nagaland: CWWS condemns designer of using its textile ‘without consent’

Dimapur, Aug. 9 (EMN): The Chakhesang frontal organisations have condemned the launch of Mora 2021 by Indian designer Ritika Mittal, alleging that she had gone ahead with her Mora Collection by using their textile “without consent and correct accreditation” despite being served with a notice and a warning.

The Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) issued a press release on Monday stating that the designer had been told to stop using Kuzhami in her credits since Kuzhami refers to 14 Kuzha/Khuzha speaking villages among the Chakhesangs in Nagaland.

‘She worked only with 2- Lasumi and Zapami villages, yet refuses to name these two villages and even acknowledge North East Network (NEN), Mora’s facilitating partner. She refused to comply with the Terms and Conditions offered by the Chakhesang apex frontal organisations, and instead challenged the community and invited them to visit her in Punjab,’ read the press release.

It said that Mittal went to the extent of “stating on social media that her project created the spelling of our indigenous word ‘Thebvo’”.

“She has also used several of our other indigenous words to give identity to her clothing with no permission from the community,” it said.

It went on to say that the designer had, during a talk on Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, (WICCI) platform on August 8, condemned indigenous communities protection around their indigenous knowledge, fear, geographical indication (GI) tag and recommend how the Chakhesang community should open itself to collaboration rather than being possessive.

“On this World Indigenous Day, we would like to make a claim that Ritika Mittal has no right to re-define our societal and traditional operations according to her self-interests. Nor does she have the right to represent our Chakhesang community in any local, national or international platform,” it stated.

The frontal organisations further warned Mora to immediately stop using any of the community’s textiles, traditional designs and motifs, failing which they said would take appropriate measures.

The Chakhesang community also condemned a note on her website Mora Collective that read: “Sentiment of 2021: My belief in this concept is even more resilient than before and have in the last 6 years been projected in the extensions of work I have carried out. Mora or I don’t believe in ‘exclusivity’ clause, copyrights, GI tagging, anything for my own self or for Mora. I do not believe in the burden of ownership, possessiveness and protection.

“I believe in the resilience of accountability, fearless sharing and preservation. I have continued to share designs without fear. I have continued to share ideas and thoughts without fear. Drop ‘exclusively’ and adopt ‘inclusively’. Give a thought to understanding the roots to create natural preservation.”

The organisation also requested the public to be “mindful” of such unethical practises while leaving it to the wisdom of the consumers to appreciate or condemn such practises.

“We the Chakhesang community hereby declare that Ritika Mittal or any individual representing Mora will not be allowed to enter Phek district,” it said.