After Thokihyi, the next village I saw was Hekiye, less than an hour's walk from Zunheboto. I went by foot with a friend and a cute baby :) and it wasn't too bad... though it was a very brief visit, what struck me deeply was the stark difference between peoples' lives even within 5 km radius. I somehow feel that the divide is widening more and something ought to be done.
Nagaland is made up of hundreds of villages with nearly 90% of the population living in villages and therefore to experience the real Nagaland or any rural region, in my opinion, is to experience how majority of people live everyday. I don't think a one-off special display of traditional finery and costumes, some stunts and dances once a year can be a true representation of one's culture and how people really live. Although it is wonderful to showcase our festivals and our rich cultural activities, I think it is as important to pay attention to people at the grass-root level, in remote and road-less, water-less, electricity-less, medicalcare-less villages who have no idea if they have the right to live life to the full potential and if they'd always be under the mercy of the changing seasons and people who govern them from far away.
Photos of Hekiye Village
Photos of Hekiye Village
"I think it is as important to pay attention to people at the grass-root level, in remote and road-less, water-less, electricity-less, medicalcare-less villages who have no idea if they have the right to live life to the full potential and if they'd always be under the mercy of the changing seasons and people who govern them from far away."
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
BRAVO!
ReplyDelete