Kohima: Ninety-seven students got their hands dirty in Dimapur. They gathered for an Endangered Craft Workshop focused on the dying art of Changki pottery. The INTACH Nagaland Chapter teamed up with the North East Zone Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Culture to run the event on October 7. The goal was simple: get kids to value traditional knowledge systems before they vanish.
Students traveled from eight local schools to attend. The group included kids from Charis High Academy, The Maple Tree School, Ram Janaki HSS, Christian HSS, Little Star HSS, Bethesda HSS, Amazing School, and Eklavya Model Residential School. Two artisans from Changki village led the instruction. They showed the students how to work the clay while the participants tried their hand at the techniques.
Prof. Jungmayangla Longkumer from the Department of Agricultural Extension Education at Nagaland University spoke during the session. She has spent years tracking the history and cultural weight of this specific pottery. According to the organizers, the event aimed to keep the "craft’s history, cultural significance and place within the community" front and center for a new generation.
Every student walked away with a certificate handed out by NEZCC Deputy Director Oliver T Pongen. Judges picked the three best pottery pieces from the day. These top works go to INTACH HECS in Delhi. They will land in the national archive and face review for special awards.
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