Governor Ganesan releases special postal cover on Naga back basket

Governor La Ganesan released of special postal cover on Naga Back Basket (NBB) at Raj Bhavan, Kohima on Thursday.
Releasing the postal cover, the governor said the NBB held great relevance in the Naga society, noting that it was used not just to carry water, firewood, rice or vegetables by the Naga women, but also often gifted to a girl by her parents or beloved as a sign of love and affection.
He observed that the basket was usually associated with rural Naga women and epitomised their handicraft, responsibility and affection. He however lamented that a woman’s work and contribution to her family often went unappreciated.
He appreciated the Department of Posts for bringing out the special cover on NBB, which he termed as a tribute to all Naga mothers and sisters.
Ganesan narrated how the Naga people in the past had produced baskets woven out of cane or bamboo for domestic use. He said the baskets were made by menfolk during the leisure time after returning home from their agricultural fields. He reminded the gathering that in olden days there were no professional weavers and that every man was an expert in basket weaving and wove for his family, signifying economic independence and self-sufficiency.
He noted that though Nagaland had a rich history of culture and tradition, the younger generation was losing touch with traditional practices and values with changing times. He expressed happiness at the older generation becoming aware of this now, while the Naga civil society groups had tasked it upon themselves to revive the dying cultural practices and traditional arts.
He pointed out that one such group – Lidi Khro Society from Kohima that was doing a wonderful job in teaching and promoting Naga arts, including traditional basket weaving to younger generation – found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio programme “Mann Ki Baat.”
The governor remarked that the importance of preserving and propagating Naga culture could never be overstated as it was the identity. While acknowledging the postal department for bringing out the special cover on NBB, he observed that it would boost efforts towards preservation and promotion of culture and traditional practices.
In his speech, superintendent of post offices L Tiken Singh said the initiative to release the special cover on NBB had been taken to popularize the handicrafts of Nagaland.
He also disclosed that the Department of Posts had approved 70 new branch post offices for rural areas in Nagaland for providing banking facilities within 5 km of all unbanked villages. He said these new offices would be made operational within this fiscal, thereby bringing the total number of post offices in the State to 400, out of which 43 would be post offices and 357 branch post offices.
Singh said the Nagaland Postal Division had released special cover on all the four GI-tagged products of Nagaland – Naga mircha, Naga tree tomato, Nagaland sweet cucumber and Chakhesang shawl.
Chaired by Kevikhrielie Kirha, the programme was attended by secretary to governor Rajesh Soundararajan, officers and staff of Raj Bhavan, and others officials. The vote of thanks was pronounced by assistant superintendent of post offices Deepak Chandra Das.