Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Kohima: President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Padma Shri to Guru Sangyusang Pongener at Rashtrapati Bhavan this Tuesday. The 81-year-old cultural icon from Nagaland’s Ungma village has spent over sixty years documenting Ao Naga traditions. He saved folk songs, dances, and ancient customs from vanishing as modernization swept through the region.
Pongener quit a steady job to pursue his goal. He faced years of financial strain while traveling to record indigenous knowledge and teach youth. In 1982, he co-founded the Naga Wadir Welfare Cultural Club to formalize his work. He mentored over 2,000 students through this institution. These artists now carry on the traditions he worked so hard to document.
The veteran performer views his national recognition as a call to action for his community. He believes that culture survives only through constant effort. Reflecting on his work, he said, "traditions endure only when communities actively choose to protect and celebrate them." His commitment ensured that Ao Naga heritage reached stages far beyond his home village, securing a legacy for the next generation.
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