The District Cultural Office Mokokchung is a subordinate establishment under the Directorate of Art and Culture, Nagaland, Kohima, headed by the District Cultural Officer. The district Office is the convergence point of all things related to the cultural heritage of MokokchungDistrict carrying on Research and Documentation, initiating and participating in cultural activities and acting as the implementing Office of various schemes and policies of the department with the overarching aim of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the district.
The Office complex of the District Cultural Officer is located in Lozutakang Colony, Ungma Village , Mokokchung. It has a very spacious compound and is attached with a library and a museum which is open and accessible to interested individuals during Office hours.
The District office is headed by the District Cultural Officer.
The activities undertaken by the Department for the year 2023-2024 are as follows:
1.Cultural Activities.
i) During the celebration of the Independence day (15th August 2023) , the Department as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, regarding presentation of Cultural items arranged WaromungNungdenReju Cultural Society and Mangmetong Senso Telongjem , Mokokchung to participate in the national celebration.
ii) A One-day Tribal Festival was organised by the District Cultural Office Mokokchung, Art and Culture Department on the theme, “Igniting Cultural Traditions”, with Shri Shashank Pratap Singh,IAS Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung as the Special Guest on 29th September 2022 at the District Cultural Office Complex, Mokokchung.
iii) During the Moatsu festival 2023 held at Mokokchung, organised by Ao Senden, a collective celebration initiated by the Government of Nagaland, the District Cultural Officer was the convenor to select the winner for the YartsungsangToktep (Folk Dance Competition) and arranged commendation certificates for the participating groups.
iv) In order to promote talented Artists, the Department sponsored 1 ( One) Artist Shri. Imtimeren , to conduct workshop in the field of traditional folk song and dance for grant of scholarship.
The District Cultural Officer Mokokchung along with the resource person and recipient of the Department Scholarship, Shri. Imtimeren, an expert in the field of Traditional Folk song and Dance with the Cultural Club during the ‘Tsungremong’ Festival performance.
iv) A training programme on Folk Song and dance was held at Mopungchuket Village on 4th May 2024 Organised by TazülendenCultural Society Mopungchuket, sponsored by the Art & Culture Department, Government of Nagaland.Around 30 students attended the training. The training programe featured Guru. S. PangyangOzuküm, Founding president Tazülenden Cultural Society, as the resource person.
2. Rural Library Activities.
i) There are 67 (Sixty-seven) registered rural libraries under Mokokchung district. Library books gifted jointly by the Government of Nagaland and the Director, Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) Kolkata are annually distributed to all the registered rural libraries. Library equipment and orientation are also given to those registered Rural libraries from time to time. For new registration of Rural library, the District Office forwards the application to the Directorate of Art & Culture, Kohima for registration.
One of the Registered Rural Libraries during their book collection at the District Office, Mokokchung.
The District Cultural Office Mokokchung has already submitted 51 (Fifty – One) Proforma of Acknowledgement (Rural Libraries) for the session 2020-2021 & 2021-2022 and Annual progress report of Rural libraries from Mokokchung district for the year ending 31st march 2023 to Head Office Kohima. ii) A District level Awareness programme for Rural libraries was organised at District Cultural Office Complex, Mokokchung on the 12th April 2022 with Shri. SentilongOzukum ,SDO ( Civil ) Mokokchung as Special Guest And Smti. MoalemlaAo , Librarian Mokokchung College of Teacher Education and Dr.Lendina , Librarian Fazl Ali College as resource person
3. Documentation Activities.
i) Documentation work of water resource / water bodies / ponds associated with legendary stories , folklores & history along with photographs from Mokokchung district was collected and submitted as assigned by Head Office Kohima.
ii) The District Office submitted assignment on uniqueness of Ao Naga Morung from Mokokchung district.
iii) The District Office collected detail report, photographs and instruments used for traditional tattoos from Mokokchung district for preservation and display at State Museum, Kohima.
4.Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme.
Annually the District Office forwards name of deserving candidates for appointment of Guru under Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme to North East Zone Cultural Centre ( NEZCC ) Dimapur and as such Shri. Rarenbenba , an expert in the field of traditional Artistic folk cultural song and dances and Shri. Marlepden, an expert in the field of folk song and author of several Ao literature from Mokokchung district were recently appointed as Guru’s under Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme 2022-2023 .
5.Governor’s Award.
The District Level Selection Committee for the Governor Award 2023 have recommended 2 (two) nominees namely;
(1) Mr. P. Alem Jamir – Literature.
(2) Mr. Talitemsu – Arts ( Sculpture and painting )
The above mentioned nominees along with their relevant documents were forwarded to State Level Selection Committee for final selection.
6.Hornbill Festival 2023: Basing on the direction received from Directorate, the District office selected the cultural troupe – Culture Club Molungkimong to participate in the Hornbill Festival Wef 1st December to 10th December 2023
The district office selected the cultural troupe – Culture Club Khensa to participate in the Hornbill Festival Wef 1st December to 10th December 2022.
7.Museum.
The museum has around 727 (seven hundred twenty seven) specimens and properly displayed. Unlike the past when funding was available for purchase and collection of Museum specimens. Nowadays the collections are usually donated / gifted by individuals . The District Office takes utmost priority in collecting, preserving and educating the younger generations.
8.Library Services.
District Library. The office is attached with a District Library facilities and lending of books are provided for those who are interested.
- The District Cultural office Mokokchung celebrated Reading / Digital Reading day / Reading month on 18th July 2023 to honour the memory of Shri. K. N Panicker , the father of Library and literacy movement in Kerala with students and teachers of GMS ImrongUngma , Mokokchung and students were gifted books provided by Directorate , Kohima.
ii) The District cultural Office forwarded the Mokokchung Law College Students Union and the Children School , Mokokchung for library assistance from Directorate , Kohima for the year 2023.
9) The District Cultural officer , Mokokchung participated in YUVA UTSAV / YOUTH FESTIVAL organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra , Mokokchung ,Nagaland in collaboration with District Administration , Mokokchung held at town hall on 28th June , 2023 as judge in Cultural Event on the theme “ Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal ”.
10) The District Cultural Office Mokokchung successfully conducted cleanliness drive at the Office premise on 30th September 2023 along with the rest of the country to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth Anniversary.
11) The District Cultural Officer also participated in the Department Officers’ Exposure Trip to New Delhi with visit to National Museum , National Archives of India and the Taj Mahal , Agra from 15th to 20th May 2023.
12) In pursuance to Home Department , General Administration Branch – II OM No. GAB/ GEN/7/120/200(pt)(c) regarding observing Rashtriya Ekta Diwas ( National Unity day ) in commemoration of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel . The District Cultural OfficeMokokchung observed the pledge taking ceremony on 31st October 2023.
13)Sangeet Natak Academy,National Academy of music dance and drama,india.
The District Cultural Officer Mokokchung nominated deserving candidates for Sangeet Natak Academy Awards and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2022 and 2023. As such Shri. Bendang Walling was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the year 2022 and 2023 in the field of activity: Theatre, Direction. The Yuva Puraskar carries purse money of Rs 25,000/- a plaque and angavastram.
14)Renovation of Multipurpose Hall.
The District Cultural Office Mokokchung undertook renovations of the Multipurpose hall at the Office Complex so as to make judicious use of Indoor space for Cultural programmes and related activities.
15)The staff of District Cultural Office Mokokchung also participated in the First Edition of Inter Departmental Sports Tournament 2023 and took part in all discipline of sports and exhibited team spirit and comradeship.
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