Staff Reporter | EMN
DIMAPUR, AUG 3
Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Imkong L Imchen on Saturday said that Nagas cannot afford forget “our unique cultural heritage”.He said “It forms the very foundation of Naga politics, in over half a century struggle for Naga sovereignty.”Imchenin his address as the chief guest at the Tsungremmong celebration organized by Chumukedima Ao Senso Telongjem today at 1st NAP Battalion ground said “We cannot afford to lose our cultural heritage, we are one ”
Unless Naga people establish “ourselves as an entity,” Imchen said that history will only remember and not recognize the Nagas. On this note he said that the state government was “pleased” to promote and preserve the Naga cultural heritage “so that we do not lose our identity (as Naga people) and get assimilated in the vast ocean of Indian population.”
Imchen was confident that the cultural similarities shared among different Naga tribes would overcome negative qualities that takes birth in “tribalism”.
MLA and chairman of Development Authority of Nagaland, N Jacob Zhimomi and MLA and vice chairman of Nagaland Agriculture Marketing Board, S Chuba Longkumer were invited as guests of honor.
Zhimomi in his address reminded the revelers that “art and culture is the soul of Nagas.” “We have to respect our culture then only others will respect us,” he said.
S Chuba Longkumer also served a reminder that the festival was not about “merry-making but reviving and reclaiming our identity.”
Folk songs, dances and exhibition of indigenous games punctuated the daylong celebration.
