Artists from Arunachal Pradesh are seen performing during the closing function of the 25th anniversary celebration of the North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at Dimapur on Monday. (Photo by Caisii Mao)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 1
Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar stated that the art and craft, music and songs, dances and dresses of North East Region make the region a veritable storehouse of “our rich cultural heritage.”
“The uniqueness of North East lies in its diversity and India should take a lesson from its variety and cultural richness”, the governor said in his address at the concluding function of the silver jubilee celebrations of the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) here at NEZCC ground, Monday evening.
The governor, who is the NEZCC chairman, was host for the closing function, stated that the North East states, though pronounced in one breath, have their own distinct identities. Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, Ashwani said “Arun means sun” and its significance lies in the fact that the first rays of the sun hit Arunchal Pradesh before they come to the rest of India. “Assam is the mother of all North Eastern states.
We all owe a lot to our mothers and so to the mother-state of North East, Assam. Manipur is the state which was called ‘the jewel of India’ by our first prime minister. Its people are known for their skills and talents”, he said.
The governor said Meghalaya, often referred to as the “Scotland of the East” is the land of undulating hills, mists and music while Sikkim is famed for its monks, monasteries and myths. Quoting tourist sources, Ashwani said Mizoram is often called as “pleasure trove of the North East” and that Tripura, the erstwhile princely state, is the “confluence of cultures and land of transition from the old and the new.” “Nagaland is known for its tribal traditions and customs. It is the state where NEZCC is located. Nagaland is proud to host this cultural centre at Dimapur and proud to contribute to its growth in every way”, the governor said.
While lauding the contributions of pioneers, past leaders and predecessors of NEZCC, Ashwani also reminded that the credit of establishing the cultural centre goes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who conceived the idea of having cultural centres in all corners of the country. “I will be happy to see NEZCC make further progress in the coming years. Its objective is to not only preserve and promote but also disseminate the wonderful pieces of art, craft and culture to the rest of India and the world”, the governor said.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, the chief guest of the curtain call, lauded the contributions of former directors and chairpersons of NEZCC, including the first director N Bendang for taking the centre to the present status.
Describing culture as “flowering of best tress and characteristics of mankind”, the chief minister expressed optimism that NEZCC would empower the North East to be more cultured, better persons and contribute to the nation.
Rio said one challenge before the NEZCC is to provide better accommodation to visiting artistes and participants, and a cultural hall to host events. Alluding to the closing function held in the open ground, Rio said that one cannot take chances with nature and that “our artistes should not be at the mercy of nature.”
In a diplomatic finesse, the chief minister said the new governor with all his experiences and concern would give a ‘Midas touch’ so that NEZCC would become one of the best cultural centres in the world.
