The Mangmetong Cultural Club Kohima (MCCK) observed its Silver Jubilee at Regional Centre of Excellence for Music &Performaing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma on 4th November 2021.
Dr. Watijungshi Jamir, who was the Guest Speaker, while speaking on Culture Reformation said culture is an organised body of conventional understanding manifested in art and artefacts, which persisted through tradition, characterizes a human group. He said to know and abide cultural tradition and take a community forward we must understand the three main factors that shape and bring change to cultural tradition which are culture is learned through observation, it is dynamic and not static as it keeps changing with change of time and culture is shared amongst other communities.
Jamir added one must give importance to one traditional attires as is identified a community and that one’s traditional attires has deep significant, meaning and are valued as the materials to make them are not easily available and are also expensive. He said that with various means of transport and technology, the world has now changed to a global village, to move forward, there is a need to adapt to the changes.
Dr. Watijungshi Jamir called upon the Mangmetong Cultural Club Kohima to organise cultural programme teach traditional folk songs, dances, stories and also how to use the traditional machete (dao) to the younger generation, and also encouraged to set up a museum in the native village to display the artefacts, traditional attires and tools used by the Mangmetong villagers for tourist to see and the younger generations to learn too.
The first President of MCCK, L. AyangImchen in his speech said that the club was formed in the year 1996, with 18 members and he shared the struggles in the initial period. He added the Club was registered in 2001 by the Home Department to become a recognised club and since then have been performing in many government events.
DIG Prison, ImtiangshiAo, who also spoke on the occasion said that culture should be based on truth to move forward. Hhe pointed out that many countries around the world move forward as they follow their own culture but we copy other cultures and hence fail to go forward therefore he urged all to retrospect and follow our culture by preserving and practising our rich culture.
Tongpang L. Imchen urged the club members to venture to the villages to learn more on culture and also educate the people about the importance of conservation of environment. He also cautioned that as more societies are popping up we should not follow their trends but keep our identity, preserve our culture and not forget our mother tongue.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Executive Engineer, ImnamerenImchen, President, Mangmetong Union Kohima, Samson Tzudir, President, MCCK, PangerImchen, AsenlaAkang and Timothy Imchen. A folk song was also presented by KohimaMangmetong Women Union.
The MCCK Souvenir booklet was released by Joint Secretary, School Education, NokchasashiKichu during the function.
(Maongtemjen, IA)
