The Governor’s Award in the Field of Arts, Music and Literature 2026 as part of 80th Independence Day, "At Home" reception was held at Dr. Imkongliba Ao Hall, Lok Bhavan, Kohima, on August 15, 2026 with the Governor of Nagaland, Nand Kishore Yadav, honouring five distinguished awardees for their contributions to the fields of Arts and Music.
Congratulating the awardees, the Governor said their achievements represented years of dedication, creativity, discipline and perseverance and reflected the rich cultural spirit of Nagaland. He said the Governor’s Award is an occasion not only to honour excellence but also to reaffirm the collective commitment to preserving, enriching and carrying forward the cultural heritage of the State.
The Governor observed that arts, music and literature are much more than forms of creative expression, as they enable society to remember its past, understand its present and imagine its future. He highlighted Nagaland’s remarkable diversity of communities, traditions, languages, songs, stories, dances, crafts and artistic expressions. He noted that much of the State’s history has been transmitted through oral traditions, folk songs, indigenous knowledge, customary practices, craftsmanship and storytelling, making artists, musicians and writers not only creators but also custodians of memory and interpreters of collective identity.
The Governor highlighted originality, innovation, impact and cultural relevance as important principles of excellence. He said every generation must find its own creative voice and stressed that tradition and modernity need not be opposites. Cultural heritage, he said, becomes stronger when it is allowed to evolve and speak to contemporary audiences without losing its essential character.
Addressing artists, the Governor encouraged them to explore new techniques and ideas while drawing inspiration from Nagaland’s landscapes, traditions and lived experiences. He said Nagaland has an extraordinary musical tradition ranging from indigenous and folk traditions to contemporary, gospel, classical and modern forms. He urged musicians to preserve indigenous musical traditions while continuing to experiment, innovate and collaborate, allowing traditional melodies to find new expressions without losing their roots.
The Governor also emphasised the responsibility of the creative community in ensuring that modernisation does not result in cultural amnesia. He said that as young people become increasingly connected to India and the wider world through technology and social media, there is both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that they embrace the best of the modern world while remaining firmly connected to their roots.
He called for greater collaboration among schools, colleges, universities, cultural institutions, artists, writers, musicians and community organisations. He stressed the need to provide young people with greater opportunities to engage with literature, music, visual arts and indigenous cultural traditions, while identifying talent early, nurturing it patiently and providing platforms for it to flourish. He also highlighted the potential of digital archives, online platforms, recordings and translations to take Nagaland’s creative traditions to audiences across India and the world.
The Governor further stressed the importance of protecting indigenous languages and traditional knowledge, observing that languages carry unique ways of understanding the world and that their disappearance represents a loss to humanity’s cultural diversity.
Speaking on the significance of the Award, Governor Yadav said that when society honours an artist, musician or writer, it affirms the importance of imagination, harmony, expression, ideas, memory and truth. He said the progress of a society should be measured not only through roads, buildings and economic indicators, but also through the richness of its culture and the strength of its human spirit.
Referring to the vision of a Viksit Bharat, the Governor said Nagaland has an important contribution to make and that development should be inclusive not only of regions and economies but also of cultures, languages and creative traditions. He described the cultural heritage of Nagaland as a bridge between the State and the rest of the country, enabling the people of Nagaland to share their distinctive stories while contributing to the larger Indian narrative.
The Governor urged the awardees to regard the recognition not as the culmination of their creative journeys but as an encouragement to reach greater heights and inspire the next generation. He expressed hope that young artists, musicians and writers, including those from remote villages, would draw inspiration from the Award and believe that their talent and the stories of their communities have a place in the wider world.
The Governor congratulated Aku Zeliang and Bendang Walling (Arts), and Divine Connection, Imkonglemba and Joey Woch (Music), and commended the Government of Nagaland, the concerned departments and the jury for recognising and encouraging outstanding talent in the fields of Arts, Music and Literature. He expressed hope that the creative spirit of Nagaland would continue to flourish and that its cultural richness would remain a proud and vibrant part of the cultural tapestry of the nation.
The programme was attended by Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, Advisors, MLAs, senior government officials, awardees and invited guests.
(PRO Lok Bhavan)
