Jimmy Chishi, a self taught painter from Dimapur, came all the way to polish his skills under the noted artist Anjolie Ela Menon here in a national level workshop conducted by experts in ten fields and attended by 700 delegates from across the country.
Jimmy was one of the 48 artists, ranging from six to 92 years of age from across the country, who had assembled at the first ever National convention of SPIC-MACAY in the state to hone skill in diverse fields of country crafts, paintings, folk forms, puppetry and classical dance and music.
Experts in 10 fields conducted the workshop as part of the convention in which 700 delegates from different parts of the country took part.
The event held from June 15 to June 21 was jointly organised by Nagaland University and the state government. It was inaugurated by Union DONER and Panchayati Raj minister Mani Shankar Aiyer.
Recalling her experience, Menon told PTI "I thoroughly enjoyed it as my students ranged from six to 92 years. And I never asked them to draw flower pots or mountains as most art teachers do."
She added that she asked them to play with colours and transform their imagination through brushes.
SPIC MACAY (The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) is a non-profit organisation which promotes classical Indian music, dance, and culture with chapters in over 200 towns and cities in India. Ace photographer Raghu Rai, who also participated in the convention for aspirant photographers, said "Explore, explore and explore. Do not search for only beautiful things to capture. Explore new things and the beauty will surface suddenly as God sent before your lens."
Noted puppeteer of contemporary India, Dadi Pudumjee used locally available bamboo materials to create puppets during another workshop.
As a communication media the puppets must make a direct contact with audience to send the message, Pudumjee said.
However, he regretted that like many traditional folk forms, the puppeteers had to struggle to keep alive this great Indian tradition since hardly any corporate sponsor came forward to promote puppet shows.
Young Naga musicians displayed their experiments with a new genre of fusion music on traditional and western musical instruments.
Besides enabling the young people to expose to spiritual dimensions of Indian cultural heritage through art, music and dance, SPIC-MACAY had been promoting music through its national conventions, Dr Kiran Seth a founder member told PTI.
Dr Seth, an IIT professor associated with the society since its inception in 1977, believed the success of SPIC-MACAY sent a strong message that Nagaland is no longer isolated from the mainstream.
Although the SPIC-MACAY convention was held in a place where the music scene is basically dominated by folk, western numbers and church music, a few young Naga musicians displayed their experiments with a new genre of fusion music on traditional and western musical instruments.
The Ebenezer Band, comprising four Chakhesang Naga youth, played the fusion of folk melodies and contemporary western musical instruments that left the audience spellbound. Other Chakhesang Naga bands and choir groups with their exotic numbers also got accolades.
Besides enabling the young people to expose to spiritual dimensions of Indian cultural heritage through art, music and dance, SPIC-MACAY had been promoting music through its national conventions, Dr Kiran Seth, prime mover of the movement told PTI.
Dr Seth, an IIT professor associated with the society since its inception in 1977, believed the success of SPIC-MACAY sent a strong message that Nagaland is no more an isolated place as generally believed by many and the Society now wants to strengthen its chapters in all north eastern states.
Sunday, February 15, 2026