S. Henlly Phom
LONGLENG, MAY 4, 2014
WHEN you look at a magnificent or a perfectly crafted table, don’t you think it’s a bit crazy that their creators get no credit? These objects come with no signatures, but they have been made with a devoted mind.
Skill is another manifestation of way of thinking. There is something magical that takes place when the craftsman encounters the material he is going to work with … he will spare no effort to get it right to produce a product that satisfies his mind.One such person is Akai Angh, recipient of the Bharat Excellence Award from the former Election Commissioner of India Dr. G.V.G.Krishnamurty. Angh is the son of Lt.Ayong Angh of Bhumnyu Village, Longleng district and is also a recipient of the North East Golden Personalities Award.
It was in the late 90’s that Akai felt the urge to create something artistic that no other craftsman had attempted to do. Imagining the unimagined, his inspiration was drawn from horns of dead animals lying unused. Soon he began to fashion products for different usage while retaining the shape of the material … recycling them in manner of speech. He would buy some of the horns and others were donated.
Since he began redesigning ‘horns’ the common question from curious visitors which Akai has to reply to how does he decide what to do with the material? Talking to Eastern Mirror he says that Longleng district had been without electricity and people are heavily dependent on kerosene lamps, candles etc. Observing that purchasing those services daily was quite expensive for the common public, he decided to try making a lamp out of the horns. Akai claims that the “hornlight” as opposed to “candlelight” comsumes less oil compared to the conventional lamps. True to his claims the lamp has proved to be handy. And this was just his first design.
But without publicity and a better platform Akai has is finding it difficult to depend on his skill to maintain his family and to continue with his passion.
Looking back he says that the 1st road show across the state in 2009 which was initiated to promote the traditional and cultural aspects of tribes in Nagaland was a blessing in disguise for him which opened doors for him to showcase his products through participation during Hornbill festival and other trade fairs across the country.
Talking about his stalls at the time of fairs, he with delight says that his stall more or less turn into a museum with curious customers mostly foreign customers showing a penchant for his products. The products come in the shape of earrings, ear cleaners, lamps, keyholders, chairs and tables. They are priced from Rs.20 to Rs 20,000.
But Akai laments the despite the hard labor and enthusiasm with which he pursues his work more often than not his labor goes in vain without any funding and recognition. He says craftsmen like him need a wider market but to participate in trade fairs and shows , it is the craftsman who has to shell out money from their pockets which costs more than what they earn by selling their wares.
But he is quick to add that some agencies such as the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) have sponsored him to attend trade fairs and they have also assisted him by contributing machineries and tools which he uses in the course of his work. Akai is using his skill and the equipment given to him to teach and train other enthusiastic people so that they can carry on the profession and do something for a living.
Sharing his thoughts with Eastern Mirror he said he is convinced that there is nothing called “impossible”, rather he says ‘impossible itself translates to “I M possible’. Howzzat? for a motivating phrase.
Akai says his intent is not for people to celebrate the products that he fashions but the importance to see the beauty around us in all things that exist. When we can do that he says there is nothing “ugly” in this world.
