Rockaware (Nagaland in Unison) is an initiative to promote young Naga talents for a good cause by the Government of Nagaland's Music Task Force and NSACS and a long list of sponsors and supporters. The show aims at spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS through music and young gifted people.
After visiting nine districts non-stop, the Rockaware team finally reached Zunheboto on the 6th of October with the brand ambassador, Renbeni Odyuo, the current reigning Naga Idol.
This was probably my first experience of this type of talent hunts in Nagaland and the show exceeded my expectations. I am totally impressed with how the whole road show is being managed. A truly professional team lead by Theja Meru have been tirelessly traveling the length and breath of Nagaland inspiring young people to realize their talents and live better lives.
The youth, especially in a place like Zunheboto, needs a platform such as this to understand that they can actually use their true capabilities and achieve their dreams, pursue whatever they wish to be and not be bounded by obligations and pressure to search only for stereotypical government jobs. Looking at the huge crowd of young people enthusiastically responding to the messages and the bands, it made me want to believe that we can now slowly move away from the old, unproductive belief system that requires every student and young person to tailor themselves for a restricted set of roles that our society accepts -- the big government posts. Musicians are not taken seriously here unless you're in sudden need of a wedding singer or a church singer. Artists, writers, designers, hair stylists, cobblers, farmers, plumbers, traders, businesswomen, cooks and carpenters have no place in our society yet.
Young people here as far as my experience goes have never been encouraged to look within themselves to find something they truly love doing irrespective of how 'big' or 'small' the role is, to make use of their true talents and live a productive life, instead the ultimate role that our society has sculpted out for young people for nearly a century is: Either 1. Doctor 2. Engineer 3. clear the UPSC and NPSC exams to become a highly respected officer with peons surrounding him/her whether he/she likes it or not and perhaps the last 'respectable' resort is to join the church ministry as a church leader. Even right now! It's as though every person was born to fit themselves into these few roles that are 'acceptable' and 'respected'. We are still living in the dark ages.
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| Naga Idol, Renbeni Odyuo singing |
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| Anti-Trust, the winning band |
I hope events like Rockaware will light some dark corners and help break thick shells.
