Will promote indigenous sport — Rijiju

Our Correspondent
Kisama, Dec. 7 (EMN): Minister of state (independent charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju on his maiden visit to the Hornbill Festival assured to promote adventure activities and indigenous sport of Nagaland.

While addressing the seventh day of the ongoing Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama on Saturday, the minister expressed desire to promote the adventure activities in Nagaland.

“Nagaland has the potential to become one of the hubs for adventure activities,” he said. Through such initiative, the youths can engage in gainful employment, which in turn, can promote their lifestyle, and source, for a better life, he added. The activities can be in any form, such as, trekking, hiking, bicycling, mountain terrain biking, etc. “I want to promote adventure activities. I want the youth of our state to engage in various activities,” Rijiju said. The minister also has plans to visit Japfü peak and go on trek to Dzükou valley on his next visit .

As for sport, the minister said he will “discuss” the matter with the state government to identify some of the indigenous sport of Nagaland. Saying that he wants to promote Naga indigenous sport, he expressed determination “to give fund from my ministry” as he “wants to do something”. He said he is trying to work out how sport culture in the Northeast can be promoted as there are various kinds of indigenous sport in the region.

Symbol of Northeast India

“Hornbill Festival has become the symbol of Naga people, symbol of Nagaland, and the symbol of Northeast India,” Rijiju said. The festival depicts the spirit and rich cultural heritage of Naga people, and people have come from far and wide to learn about this “amazing” festival, he said.

After having travelled Nagaland extensively, he thought Hornbill Festival is where people can see the whole of Nagaland in a single platform, though every district has their respective festival throughout the year.

The minister was also surprised at the capability of managing hundreds of events and different activities taking place during the 10-day long festival.

Straightforward and courageous

The immediate characters to define a Naga person would be, “simplicity, straightforwardness, and courage,” according to Rijiju.

Recounting his university days, he said he had many friends from Nagaland through whom he learned Naga culture and tradition. He also praised the hospitality and ‘respectful traits’ of the Nagas.’ In fact, we are almost alike, we think alike. We are people from the same stock; our nature and character are also similar,’ he said.

Act East Policy ‘taking shape’

‘The Act East Policy propounded by the prime minister is taking shape. The basic infrastructure—the foundations for better development are being laid. The next few years will bring results,’ Rijiju said. 

Close to 1,000 boys and girls from NE have joined Delhi police through the initiative of a special police force that was created during his previous tenure as minister of state for Home affairs, he added. As a minister from NE in the Modi government, he ensured that the interest and voice of the NE people will always be heard and protected.

Rijiju charms with Nagamese

Towards the end of his address, Rijiju spoke to the people in Nagamese, which was received with applause and (surprised) amusement from the gathering.  He said: “Naga bhaat bi khabo, Naga muddu bi khabo” (will relish the Naga food as well as the rice beer).

He went on to add: “Olop chance pai ley gaana bi kuribo, aru dance bi kuribo” (provided the chance, will sing as well as dance).  

An ancient human-tiger power play

At the initiative of the state’s department of Youth Resources and Sports, a group of youth from Changki village in Mokokchung district performed an indigenous game called ‘hekkho’ on Saturday at Kisama.

According to a DIPR report, ‘hekkho’—literal translation meaning to ‘dare/provoke the tiger’— is an indigenous group game played by the natives of Changki village.

The game has its root in the belief that in the days of the ancestors, ‘ami’ (human) and animals coexisted as a community without distinction. ‘Akho’ (tiger) was considered the eldest as well as the most powerful in that hierarchy.

But on occasion when the ‘ami’ dared to challenge the might of the tiger (akho), it came to be known as ‘hekkho’— ‘hek’ which meant to dare, and ‘kho’, meaning tiger.

“Through this game, the bravest and the most heroic men in the village are identified. In the olden times, a circle was demarcated in front of the village courthouse. The players were divided into two groups namely ‘ami (men) and akho (tiger) groups. The ‘ami’ group was made to position inside the demarcated circle to be attacked by the ‘akho’ group.

“The most agile member of the ‘ami’ group, whose leadership was crucial in the group’s defence against the tiger’s attack, was awarded with the accolade ‘khozuba’. Similarly, from the ‘akho’ group, the most tenacious and indomitable was awarded with the accolade ‘khotiba’,” read the DIPR report.