Kohima: Students from various Kohima schools gathered at the State Academy Hall on Wednesday. The Department of Art and Culture hosted the Living Morung Initiative to teach traditional knowledge to younger generations. The program aimed to prove that heritage is not a relic of the past, but a living asset for the future.
Alobo Naga, Director of the North East Zone Cultural Centre, pushed for active participation. He noted that the historic morung served as a vital hub for passing down stories, songs, and skills. He warned that knowledge vanishes if it remains trapped in silence. "We don't preserve culture by putting it behind glass. We preserve culture by giving it life," Alobo said. He argued that modern technology and tradition can coexist without conflict.
Adela Moa, Director of Art and Culture, highlighted the rapid decline of traditional learning due to modernization. The state government launched the Living Morung Initiative in 2025-26 to combat this loss. The project creates spaces for intergenerational training in discipline, defense skills, and moral values. The department now runs the initiative in villages across the state to ensure wisdom survives.
Bodeno S. Colo, Commissioner and Secretary of the department, opened an exhibition showcasing handloom and bamboo crafts. The event featured Lhüvepra Venyo on the horn and Petekolie Khawakhrie discussing bamboo craft. Neivozonuo Kire shared techniques on loin loom weaving, while groups like the Tobu Area Shekho Ukhong and the Tamlu Cultural Troupe performed. Additional performers included Moko Koza, the Soyim Students' Union, and the Tikhir Union.
Comments