On the occasion of 75th Independence Day celebration, Nagaland governor, R. N. Ravi felicitated the recipients of Governor’s Award at the “At Home-cum-Governor’s Award” programme held at Dr.Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan, here on Sunday.
The recipients were Buddhi Bahadur Thapa for Arts and display of paintings; Kekhrielezo Stephen Mark Medom for Arts and display of sculpture works; Bendangnungsang Ao for Arts and display of painting and Squadron band for display of music and Live performance.
According to DIPR report, the Governor’s Awards were conferred to the awardees of 2020 since the Award could not be held due to pandemic. While congratulating the award recipients, RN Ravi lauded them for inspiring the younger generations. He said the Britishers not only colonised India politically and economically but also colonised socio-cultural and intellectual institutions of the people of this country, and the de-colonisation of it remains and unfinished project even today.
He added that to sustain “British empire in India they had to infuse a sense of inferiority among the natives, and the infused sense of superiority of Britishness was felt in their conduct, teachings, literature, music, art that they produced and encouraged, and we keep following it without appreciating and understanding”.
Noting that Art, Culture and Music, were powerful medium of expression, he said the state has enormous rich cultural heritage but unfortunately most of it has been “mirrored in the forms of a few dances and dresses”.
He therefore said that the values which have preserved and transmitted down the line by the ancestors should be revived.
Chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, who was also present, in his brief speech said the formalities of the Award for 2021 could not be completed and will be carried over in 2022. He congratulated the awardees and said the recognition of their works was not only to promote but to encourage the youths in the field of Music, Art and Literature. Chief secretary, J. Alam also addressed the gathering and Matu Zeliang of Nagaland Police presented special song.