Squadron, the heavy metal rock band from Nagaland with a record of over 400 live concerts, made their debut appearance as a band on August 15, 1990 in Mokokchung town. Exactly 31 years later, Squadron has received the prestigious Governor’s Award in the field of Art, Music and Literature 2020 which was presented during the ‘At Home’ cum Governor’s Award held at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima on August 15. “During these 31 years, we have gone through a lot as a band but, receiving this prestigious award has made it all worth,” the band shared.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 16
Precisely, 31 years after their first official concert as a band, the legendary rockers from Nagaland, Squadron has received the prestigious Governor’s Award in the field of Art, Music and Literature 2020. The award was presented during the ‘At Home’ cum Governor’s Award held at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima on August 15.
On the occasion, the Governor’s Awards were conferred to the awardees of 2020 since the Award could not be held due to pandemic, an update from DIPR stated. The recipients were Buddhi Bahadur Thapa for Arts and display of paintings; Kekhrielezo Stephen Mark Medom for Arts and display of sculpture works; Bendangnungsang Ao for Arts and display of painting and Squadron band for display of music and live performance.
Squadron band members, awardees with the Governor RN Ravi, CM Neiphiu Rio and others during the ‘At Home’ cum Governor’s Award held at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima on August 15.
Celebrating the award, Squadron – the Nagaland’s longest surviving band wrote on their Facebook page, “In the year 1990, on this day the 15th August we performed our first concert as a band and after 31 years, today we the ‘SQUADRON’ have received prestigious Governor's Award. Today is our birthday and we accept this prestigious Award as a birthday gift from the people of Nagaland.”
The heavy metal rock band with a record of performing over 400 live concerts, thanked their fans, “Because our fans deserve everything. They are the reason that we are what we are today.” They also acknowledged their parents and posted, “Without their support we couldn't have come this far.”
“During these 31 years, we have gone through a lot as a band but, receiving this prestigious award has made it all worth and for this, we would like to thank our Honourable Governor of Nagaland for this award and also the department of art and culture for believing in us and our craft,” the band conveyed.
Meanwhile, during the function Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi mentioned that art, culture and music are very powerful medium of expression. “Nagaland has enormously rich cultural heritage, every village needless of its culture has remarkable composite expression for the way of life, unfortunately today most of it is mirrored in the forms of a few dances and dresses. It loses the values which for centuries our ancestors have preserved and transmitted down the line,” the Governor expressed while adding, “Our people should resonate the collective angst and urges of society only then it becomes genuine and relevant.”
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio in his brief speech said the formalities of the Award for 2021 could not be completed and it will be carried over in 2022. Rio said the state is unique because of the rich culture and tradition, we need to preserve it at the same time we cannot ignore the modern art, music and literature which is highly respected today further for their promotion in Nagaland, the State government has announced CM’s scholarship for Music and Arts.
