(From left to right) Kedoneisie Nagi, Bode Peseyie, Kevitsosie Nagi And Keneitsolie Nagi. (C) A kitchen cabinet made by the Four Brothers (R)The Four Brothers at work. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | November 29
One’s best years should be spent serving one’s community and village, and the best service is to lead by example, according to the ‘Four Brothers,’ a start up based in Jotsoma, Nagaland.
Started by cousins Bode Peseyie, Kevitsosie Nagi, Kedoneisie Nagi and Keneitsolie Nagi, ‘Four Brothers’ specializes in carpentry works and electrical trade.
With the growing unemployment in Nagaland, the ‘Four Brothers’ decided to earn their living independently by teaching themselves carpentry and getting trained and licensed in the electrical trade.
“We grew up together. Most of our parents are cultivators and we learned woodwork skills at a young age. Even during our studies, we used to engage in such skills,” says the four.
In recent years, the four also learned several carpentry skills through YouTube tutorials. Further, their local MLA also helped them in undertaking training on electrical skills and obtaining their licenses. While their work is mostly focused on woodwork and electrical trade, all four come from diverse academic backgrounds.
27 year old Bode Peseyie holds a Master's degree in Economics from NEHU; 27 year old Kevitsosie Nagi completed his Masters in Political Science from Madras Christian College; 26 year old Kedoneisie Nagi holds a BSc degree in Mathematics; while 26 year old Keneitsolie Nagi has a Bachelors degree in Political Science.
“We were encouraged by our parents to go for competitive exams. But we also understood that not everyone will get government jobs,” says Kevitsosie Nagi. Being educated also comes with the responsibility of earning a living, which Nagi believes is what ‘Four Brothers’ stands for.
In April 2018, ‘Four Brothers’ was launched with their first work commissioned by the Jotsoma Students' Union where they built a wooden table for the union. Since then, the four have been engaged in contracts where they have worked on various woodworks for private homes such as kitchen cabinets, dining tables, wardrobes, bookshelves etc. The team has also worked in electrifying a few departmental and residential homes.
While ‘Four Brothers’ has seen its share of success as a start up, which has helped, encouraged and inspired many youth in Jotsoma, the four also admit that starting one's own trade is a struggle in the absence of a safety net, especially if one does not come from a rich background.
“We've been through our own struggles, especially financial problems. When we started ‘Four Brothers,’ we would buy our machines and tools with the money we earned through our work. That is how we were able to slowly build our enterprise,” says Nagi.
He also helped teach in a local school in his village where the teachers pooled in money and paid him a nominal salary. With the money, he was able to buy machines and tools.
“By the grace of God, we've never run out of works and projects. When one work ends, we get another project. Since, it is just a start up, we are able to earn enough for ourselves,” says the team, expressing hope that ‘Four Brothers’ will have more success in the future.
“Four Brothers has helped bring out the best of creativity and innovation. Through this group we would like to spread the message of dignity of labour,” says Bode Peseyie.
For Kedoneisie Nagi, the best outcome of ‘Four Brothers’ has been the inspiration it has instilled many to start working independently.
“Last year we started setting up our workshop near our house, which will be completed by December,” they inform. The four of them work every day except Sundays. Their work usually starts at 8:00 am and foes on till 4:30 pm. On busier days, they work till 9:00 pm.
“Most of us are introverts and we usually like working in solitude. The best thing about our work is seeing the raw materials transform into something beautiful and useful. To be a part of this transformation and watching the final outcome is always very satisfying,” says Kevitsosie.
Most importantly, being able to work independently; being able to determine one's own working hours and condition; being able to rest whenever we can- for the Four Brothers, is the best perk about one's own start up.
