Dimapur, Nov 14 (MExN): The land is beautiful and clean with warm friendly people all around and is similar with other cities in India. This is the impression of the odd nineteen Indian Foreign Service trainees and two accompanying wives, who made a short stop at their fellow trainee T Ajungla’s residence at Signal Bosti here today on their exposure trip to Nagaland as part of their training.
The newest batch of Indian diplomats most of whom are on their first visit to the state, had nothing but praise for the rich cultural tradition of the people and the beauty of the place.
“It’s very clean”, said Asish Sinha from Bihar, although that view may not be shared by many citizens of the town. He added that the town is somewhat similar with other towns in India as the town has ‘showrooms, trains and other facilities.’
Another IFS officer from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Brahma Kumar suggested that there should be an exchange of students from the schools with other schools in the mainlands for better understanding among the people.
Gaurav from Uttar Pradesh had a nostalgic time as he had spent some time in the town when his father was serving as a Brigadier in the Army in the late eighties. Gaurav confessed that he could still remember the winternights when Christmas stars were hung high on poles and the paddy fields as well. He specifically recalled four book shops in the town and apprised of his impression that the people had such a love for reading even during that time.
“I’ll tell him that Dimapur is more developed now with fly-overs. But one thing that has not changed is that the people are still friendly and nice”, said Gurav when asked what he would tell his father on returning home. On being asked whether he would tell his father to visit the state, Gaurav said, “Yes, I’ll tell him to visit, of course.”
On being asked how he would project Nagaland vis-a-vis other parts of India and the world, Gaurav said that he would ‘encourage the people to come to Nagaland and get a first-hand experience of the people and the land.’ However, he lamented that there is a lot of misconception about the land in other parts of the country with regards to security and remoteness of the area. He attributed this as the main reason for the other people of India not visiting Nagaland.
C P Shiji, wife of IFS Venkatachalam, who is on her first visit to the state, confessed that she knew of Nagaland only in magazines and the television. Nevertheless, she was all praise for the indigenous Naga cuisine and said that she will try to ‘download the recipes from the internet.’ Her husband, Venkatachalam when asked what he would tell to the people of the region was quick to answer, “Preserve your own identity and culture and be a proud Indian.” He also stressed on the diverse cultural identity of the country and expressed his admiration at the rich cultural lives of the Naga people.
The IFS officers who made a short visit here left for Kohima today itself and will also visit Imphal after which they would leave for Kolkata. They will be interacting with some state official in Kohima. The visiting IFS trainees were entertained with a cultural dance by some local dancers and treated to a nice Naga cuisine before they left for Kohima.
