National Integration Camp at Nagaland:
|
Suddenly I received a call from Dr.Sanjay Chakne(Ex-Cordinator,National Service
Scheme,Pune University) on that day and I was asked to come to the University of Pune and
receive the selection letter for “1st North East Youth Festival”, which was going to be held in
Kohima,Capital of Nagaland from 8th to 10 th October 2009.It was an amazing feeling which just
cannot be described in words.The camp was held by Ministry Of Youth Affairs and Sports(Govt.
Of India) with a motive to provide a platform for exposure to the youth of our country to showcase
their talent and know about different cultural events, languages, lifestyle, culinary and sartorial
habits,historical and cultural monuments. After my parents signed the undertaking, I realised how fortunate I was to be one of the 10 students to represent Maharashtra team for this Camp. Finally with anxiety, we left for the “MOST AWAITED JOURNEY TO NAGALAND” on 4th Oct’ 09.We reached Nagpur and met the whole team of Maharashtra along with Walke Sir, our Programme Offi cer. During our journey ,we all could capture the eagerly awaited view of ‘Howrah Bridge’, the scenery of Kolkata,the region we all could capture the eagerly awaited view of ‘Howrah Bridge’, the scenery of Kolkata, |
 |
we all could capture the eagerly awaited view of
‘Howrah Bridge’, the scenery of Kolkata,the region called Chicken’s Neck,tea farms of Assam and
unforgettable Seven Sisters of the North East. Guwahati was the last place where we spoke to our
parents, as communication in Nagaland wasn’t possible. Then we left for Dimapur along the border
of Assam and Nagaland.At Dimapur, we received a grand welcome by some Nagami students and
especially a very cute little girl named, Awang. I can recollect their traditiional outfi t as shawl, mekhla
,necklace of elephant trunks, wooden earrings and aluminium bangles. There onwards, from
Dimapur to Kohima, our journey was in a bus escorted by two jeeps of CRPF which also helped
us through muddy, rough, slippery roads. At times facing two landslides, we fi nally reached our
destination, “INDIRA GANDHI STADIUM”, Kohima taking 5-6 hrs for just 70kms. In that shivering
cold, we entered a huge hall where girls from all states were also staying.We all interacted with
each other. A conversation with them made me realize how proud each one of us felt discussing
about India, its states, culture etc. Nothing else but a perfect blend of “UNITY IN DIVERSITY”.
Next day,it was the time for the awaited inauguration ceremony of the camp, beginning with March Parade of every state team followed by the folk dances of the Nagamis. Really,it was worth watching ceremony. Later on, there were different competitive events such as folk songs , folk dances, rock band, mono act play, elocution, Hindustani Carnatic vocal and Young Artist Camp accompanied with cultural exchange nights, where everyone showed their own speciality like Kathak, Bhangda , lavani etc. From our team,Supriya performed lavani and I enthusiastically sung ‘Reshmachya Reghani’. Also I actively represented my team in elocution. Apart from this, stalls of every state for their own speciality in food, clothes, showpieces, handlooms etc were setup, where Maharashtrians “puran poli” and Navvari saree added splendor to it.
To speak about the localites over there, life is not too easy for them. May it be because of terrorist, naxalites or even natural calamities at times. As they are not well updated with technical world, we showed them slides on ‘Rain Water Harvesting’ and ‘Hydroelectricity Generation’. Later on we visited a park named “NAGALAND CITY” and also educated ourselves with 16 types of tribes and culture of Nagaland.
Ultimately, the Valedictory Function was awesome in presence of Miss. Agatha Sangame, Youngest Member of Parliament. Now,it was the departure time for us.It was fi lled with emotional happiness.We promised each other to stay in contact. The National Integration camp was an unforgettable experience for me.
Though this region is ethically, linguistically, culturally distinct, but it is an integral part of India.I would insist that one should discover this most adorable region of ‘Incredible India’ ,atleast once in a lifetime.
Next day,it was the time for the awaited inauguration ceremony of the camp, beginning with March Parade of every state team followed by the folk dances of the Nagamis. Really,it was worth watching ceremony. Later on, there were different competitive events such as folk songs , folk dances, rock band, mono act play, elocution, Hindustani Carnatic vocal and Young Artist Camp accompanied with cultural exchange nights, where everyone showed their own speciality like Kathak, Bhangda , lavani etc. From our team,Supriya performed lavani and I enthusiastically sung ‘Reshmachya Reghani’. Also I actively represented my team in elocution. Apart from this, stalls of every state for their own speciality in food, clothes, showpieces, handlooms etc were setup, where Maharashtrians “puran poli” and Navvari saree added splendor to it.
To speak about the localites over there, life is not too easy for them. May it be because of terrorist, naxalites or even natural calamities at times. As they are not well updated with technical world, we showed them slides on ‘Rain Water Harvesting’ and ‘Hydroelectricity Generation’. Later on we visited a park named “NAGALAND CITY” and also educated ourselves with 16 types of tribes and culture of Nagaland.
Ultimately, the Valedictory Function was awesome in presence of Miss. Agatha Sangame, Youngest Member of Parliament. Now,it was the departure time for us.It was fi lled with emotional happiness.We promised each other to stay in contact. The National Integration camp was an unforgettable experience for me.
Though this region is ethically, linguistically, culturally distinct, but it is an integral part of India.I would insist that one should discover this most adorable region of ‘Incredible India’ ,atleast once in a lifetime.