Padma Shri 2026 awardee Guru Sangyusang Pongener receives a grand welcome in Ungma and announces plans for a cultural academy.
MOKOKCHUNG — Padma Shri 2026 awardee Guru Sangyusang Pongener, who was honoured for his contributions to art, received a grand traditional welcome at Ungma village on Tuesday, where he dedicated the national honour to the people of Nagaland and announced plans to establish a cultural academy to preserve indigenous traditions.
The Ungma Village Council accorded him a homecoming reception at the village gate.
During the programme, Pongener dedicated the Padma Shri to the entire state of Nagaland, saying the recognition would not have been possible without the unwavering support and encouragement of the Naga people.
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Expressing his long-cherished dream, Pongener said, "If the Government extends support through grant funding, I plan to start an academy for cultural arts where I will personally teach young people traditional songs, dances, folklore, and various cultural practices."
Recalling his formative years, Pongener said his passion for Ao culture began in childhood. He learnt songs, dances, and storytelling from his grandparents and village elders, while his mother taught him traditional folk songs. He said this early foundation inspired his lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Naga cultural heritage.
Pongener co-founded the Naga Wadir Club, a cultural organisation dedicated to preserving Naga cultural heritage and nurturing young artists. Through the club, he has led cultural exchange tours across different states and mentored numerous students to ensure that Ao folk traditions continue to be passed on to future generations.
Before receiving the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours, Pongener had been recognised with several awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2002; the Guru title from NEZCC in collaboration with IGNOU, New Delhi, in 2012; the Governor's Award in 2017; and recognition as a Mentor under the KALA-DEEKSHA programme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in 2024.
Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma described the occasion as a historic milestone for Mokokchung district and Ungma village.
He said the Padma Shri 2026, conferred by the President of India, was not merely an individual honour but recognition for the Ao community, the people of Ungma, and the cultural heritage of Nagaland.
He also commended Pongener's efforts in documenting, revitalising, and promoting folk songs, dances, oral histories, and performing arts. He urged the people to draw inspiration from Pongener's life, saying true success lies in the legacy one leaves behind rather than in personal gain.
Representatives of the Ungma Village Council, the Department of Art & Culture, Ao Senden, the Naga Wadir Club, and Pongen Kidong, Ungma, also addressed the felicitation programme.