Sano Meru
August 15
KOHIMA (MExN): Adding colour to the Independence Day celebrations in the State, the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan, Kohima witnessed the release of the Coffee Table Book on the Raj Bhavan as well as the giving away of the Governor’s Award for distinction in the fields of Art, Music and Literature. The Coffee Table Book was released by the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio. Dr. Shurhozelie, Minister of Planning and Coordination was conferred upon the Governor’s award for his contribution to Tenyidie literature. The function was also attended by a host of dignitaries including the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Kiyanelie Peseyie, Ministers, Opposition Leader I Imkong, Parliamentary Secretaries, Members of the Legislative Assembly, high ranking officials of the State Government and public leaders.
The Chief Minister, while congratulating the awardees, lauded the Governor for the initiative he had taken in transforming the Raj Bhavan into a place of learning and interaction for all from an establishment erstwhile regarded as an edifice housed for official ceremonies only. Rio further elaborated that the recognition to professionals outside the purview of Government functionaries as demonstrated today was at the behest of the present State Governor, Shyamal Dutta.
The Governor, in his turn, commented that this year’s awardees were more suitably inclined to receive recognition for their respective contributions. He however pointed out the need of including deserving women in the merit list as this year’s awardees comprised of only gentlemen. He was very eloquent in his comment on the importance and role of a vibrant culture in the life of any people and said, “Culture can be one step to reach our destiny.” He further remarked that culture was to be preserved, sustained and passed on from generation to generation.
Presenting a synopsis on the Governor’s Awards, Director of the Art and Culture department, Kevineinuo Meru informed the gathering that the Governor’s Award for distinction in the fields of Art, Music and Literature was instituted in 2003 with a view to nurture talents in the said fields. The Governor’s Award was instituted in the year 2003 to be conferred on every Independence Day at the Raj Bhavan, Kohima. Meru further revealed that this gesture of the government could be viewed as a welcome sign that necessary infrastructures such as Art Galleries and Auditoriums would be erected in due time for the purpose of exposure and development of the arts. She was of the conviction that the process of selection of awardees had been remarkably streamlined. She however said that there were still many rooms for improvement.
It may be mentioned that with the release of the Coffee Table Book, Nagaland has joined the illustrious group of Raj Bhavans who have encapsulated their histories in writing. The Coffee Table Book is the culmination of several months of hard and tenacious work. In this, the Raj Bhavan Secretariat has been inspired by two Monographs- one on the Naga tribes and the other on the Raj Bhavan- prepared by former Governor Om Prakash Sharma. Contributions made by previous Governors and their family members, former Secretaries and Additional Secretaries to Governors feature in the book. The Coffee Table Book has found expression in print on account of pains taken by Pankaj Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, George Abraham, Superintendent and Kevingozo Visa, LDA to the Secretariat besides Visato of Kohima.
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