Morung Express News
Kohima | October 12
By early 6:00 am, residents of Lower Agri Colony, Kohima and elsewhere, wait outside the NK Pork shop at the colony to buy pork. Well known for its hygiene and skilled cuts, the meat in this shop is sold off by 10:00 am or earlier, inviting even residents from other far-off colonies to flock to Lower Agri colony to buy the meat.
25 years old Niepukhrielhou Kense, who owns the NK Pork shop, took up the family trade of working as a butcher four years ago while pursuing his masters’ degree from Nagaland University. “Then, it was just to earn my own pocket money. I would sell one or two pigs before going to class. But after completing my Masters, I gave my full time into this business and it's going to be two years now,” said Kense.
The eldest son in his family, he learned the skills at a young age from his father Thepfüvilie Kense, who had been in the pork business for over 15 years and supporting the family of nine children. Following a serious and prolonged illness, his father was incapacitated from working as a butcher, thus compelling the young boy to take up the profession full time.
“I started this because my father had been sick for a long time and could not work anymore. There was no one in my family to look after my brothers and sisters who are still studying,” the young butcher recalled.
While in college and working part-time as a butcher, Kense came across the news about Nagaland spending crores per month on meat, and realised that the pork business will be a sustainable one in future. So, Kense finally decided to work full time as a butcher.
“At first, there were so many people who discouraged me. Even my family and relatives did. People would question, ‘You studied to become a butcher? You have done your Masters, why are you working as a butcher?’” mentioned Kense, who however was determined to pursue the business. He was also inspired by the encouragement of an elder who advised him to ‘be his own boss by starting his own business,’ instead of holding a small post and serving in some government establishment.
Working as a butcher and running his own shop has not been a smooth task. Most times, Kense wakes up at 2:00 am or 3:00 am depending on the number of pigs ordered or to be sold. By 6:00 am, the meat is brought to his shop where customers are lined up. The pork gets sold off either by 10:00 am or 11:00 am.
“I am now in-charge of the business and have one employee to assist me. My siblings help me when there are more customers and when there are more orders. My brother who is studying in Kohima Science College handles the finances before going to college,” informed Kense.
Meanwhile, in his spare time, Kense also helps out in the Students’ Union in his village Tuophema. Despite discouragements and criticisms, Kense is determined to continue with his business. While another branch of his meat shop is in the offing, the youth also dreams of owning his own local pig farm one day.
“Everybody cannot become an officer and everyone will not get government jobs. And government jobs are not the only source of survival. I am doing my job with honesty and I am loving what I am doing,” he added.
