KOHIMA — Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, while inaugurating the new TaFMA Centre of Excellence for Music and Arts (CEMA) in Kohima on Sunday, said that with the right approach and attitude, sports, music, and the arts will be a unifying factor for the state of Nagaland.
The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Oscar award-winner A. R. Rahman, along with deputy chief ministers Y Patton and TR Zeliang, and the Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports, Keoshu Yimchunger.
Speaking at the programme, Rio expressed that the youth are the hope and future of the state. He said that the state faces numerous problems due to the Naga political issue and the division of Nagas across Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
He added that the people of the state are privileged because the majority of Nagas live in Nagaland. He assured that the state government is determined to help and empower the youth and expressed hope that the centre would be a place of blessings for all musicians and young people.
He also extended his gratitude to AR Rahman for coming to Nagaland and for his efforts to bring the Nagas to the world stage. He expressed that the government looks forward to working with him and partnering in the future.
He also urged the musicians to bring peace and tranquillity to the state through their work. He hoped that Nagaland would not only be known as the land of festivals but also as the land of music.
It may be mentioned that the centre was conceptualised to encourage and promote music and the arts at both national and international levels by creating awareness and preserving the talents of people practicing age-old traditional music and art forms that are being overlooked.
The centre was constructed at a cost of INR 5 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme.
The welcome address was delivered by Theja Meru, chairman of TaFMA, followed by short speeches from Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, and AR Rahman, Padma Bhushan awardee and Grammy and Oscar winner.