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The principal of Kohima College Dr. Watijungshi Jamir, right, after inaugurating the college’s museum.[/caption]
According to the press release, more than two lakh Naga artefacts are on display in museums all over the world including in Vienna, New York, Oxford. The Naga people “now have very little of what is originally theirs,” the press release asserted. She was quoted as having stated that ‘as Nagas do not have a written history or language, we depend solely on oral history which is now a dying practice, and that it is most crucial that we preserve and protect our tradition and culture.’
It was for said reason that the college decided to open the museum, which, along with the “oral history we have, will help our future generation maintain and preserve our rich cultural tradition and history.”
The principal of the college Dr. Watijungshi Jamir unveiled the plague. The principal was the one who conceived the idea of opening a museum in the college, the press release stated, and encouraged the college’s department of History to take the initiative to set it up.
The faculty donated a sum of money which was sanctioned for the establishment of the museum. Artefacts in the museum were donated or lent by the principal and faculty members, it was informed.
In his speech, Dr. Watijungshi Jamir thanked the Almighty God for his blessings and the faculty members for giving him the ‘opportunity to unveil this historical moment in KCK.’ He said that the biggest museums in the world ‘start with just one artefact,’ and that the tribal museum of the college, which now has over more than a hundred artefacts, will ‘one day have a generous number of artefacts and visitors as well.’
Further, Dr. Jamir said that a museum was a place where objects of historical importance are kept to be exhibited, preserved, and studied. He encouraged the History department and other departments to make use of the museum for research purposes as well.
Also, the principal requested the various departments to apply for Museum Development funds from the North East India History Association as the college was now eligible for it. He expressed hopes that his successors would continue with the tradition of maintaining and preserving Naga artefacts.
During the event, assistant professor of the department of Sociology Dr. Kekhrieseno Christina gave an account of the use and significance of the ‘traditional’ lock. She said that the Naga forefathers were ‘known for their honesty and sincerity’ and that their value system was an everyday experience. One such experience was the lock–two long sticks wedged across the door symbolizing the absence of the owner of the house.
“No one dared to open the door as it was almost a taboo to do so. The owner could be away for a day or for months but there was no fear or worry of losing one’s belongings,” the organisers explained.
Dr. Kekhrieseno Christina said further that the ‘value system’ that was once an integral part of the Naga society had become a ‘rare incident’ in the present day. ‘We find ourselves at a crossroad as many of us are unaware of our rich culture and practices,’ the press release explained. She declared that the opening of the lock should be an ‘inspiration for all of us to revive our age-old good tradition and to open doors to more knowledge of who we are in the days to come.’