A rare and evocative photo exhibition titled “Of Another Time: Naga Family Photos 1950s–1990s” opened at the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Complex, Chümoukedima, on Friday, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the everyday lives of Naga families across four transformative decades.
The exhibition, curated by the Naga Photo Archive in collaboration with the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), showcases over 500 photographs sourced from personal and family collections from Naga-inhabited areas of Northeast India.
Unlike conventional historical narratives that often focus on political developments or anthropological studies, the exhibition highlights the ordinary experiences of Naga families, capturing moments of leisure, celebration, aspirations, and social transition.
The Dimapur exhibition will conclude on June 6 before moving to other districts. It will be held in Kohima on June 9 and 10 at Art Branch Mall, Museum Annexe (Ground Floor), Directorate of Art & Culture, Bayavü Hill; in Wokha on June 12 and 13 at the Village Development Board Community Hall near the Public Ground in collaboration with the Lotha Women Hoho; and will return to Dimapur from June 15 to 17 at the Heirloom Naga Centre, Sovima, in collaboration with the Heirloom Naga Centre.
According to the organisers, the Naga Photo Archive has been actively collecting photographs dating from the 1940s to the 1990s. The archive seeks to reinterpret these images not merely as visual records but as valuable historical documents reflecting important phases of Naga history, including the pre-Independence era, the Naga political movement, statehood, and the years of conflict leading up to the 1997 ceasefire.
The curators noted that while considerable literature exists on the Naga nationalist movement and anthropological studies of Naga society, relatively little attention has been given to documenting the everyday lives of ordinary Nagas. Through this collection, the exhibition aims to fill that gap and bring overlooked narratives into public view.
The photographs also reveal how families documented their lives amid periods of social and political change. Though seemingly ordinary, the images provide insight into how individuals viewed their futures, engaged with the wider world, and preserved their identities.
As part of the exhibition, a series of programmes were organised, including a guided walkthrough led by Dr. Meripeni Ngully of Dimapur Government College. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Atrong of Deconstructing Morung, Lanu of Wandering Minds College of Fine Arts, Dr. Meripeni Ngully, and filmmaker Kivini Shohe.
An open house discussion was also held with Menaka Rodriguez, Executive Director of the India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore.
The organisers expressed gratitude to all contributors who shared photographs from their personal archives and emphasised that all images were displayed only after obtaining the consent of the respective family members.
(Staff Reporter)
