Spring Festival, Dimapur

DIMAPUR, THE GREAT LAND ON THE BANK OF A RIVER.


My flight schedules between Imphal Tulihal Airport and Dimapur Airport were rudely interrupted by a delay of few hours. I was told that it was to be expected in one of the worst sectors of Indian Aviation destinations. Notwithstanding the ill maintained state of both the Airports, I was rather mystified by the degree of stoic silence and indifference shown by leaders of both the States of Manipur and Nagaland.
My visit to Dimapur had a purpose this time. I was to attend the Spring Festival organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre. It was a tempting invitation I could not resist, merely by virtue of the event itself, the invitee and the chance of a home-stay experience that was more worthwhile than travelling great distance.
I was struck by the beauty of the Stage decoration which was an art in itself, designed by a naga sculptor in an inimitable naga style. The performance by artists from different parts of India, accompanied by live folk musicians made an excellent array of cultural synthesis that one rarely sees in India.
The book stalls were limited and so were the book lovers. The dwindling number of booklovers across the world could perhaps be attributed for the shortfall in the sale and quality of the book stalls itself. However, it was an expected call and nothing could be done to assuage this limitation. One could only hope optimistically for a pragmatic compromise between paperback and digital technology in future.
For those who relish native delicacies, it was also a venue to try their taste buds. Beside the more popular momos and chinese cuisines, Rice wine (mystically written as Zoutho!), smoked pork, akhuni, anishi (?), etc. were available on the few food stalls put up for the food lovers.
I realized that my chance visit to the forgotten land on the bank of River Dhansiri, presently known as Dimapur, was once inhabited by the Kacharis around A.D. 10. They built forts and left their heritage of monoliths in the heart of the city, and now, preserved in a dilapidated state with a fence. The monoliths, which came in different designs, shapes, and sizes were also the silent spectators to the phenomenon of continuity and change of history of this place.
Dimapur, the city resembled any of the growing small cities of India with evidences of few open drains, narrow roads with potholes, few affluent homes, impressive malls, busy shopping centres, etc. Only the grandeur of the omnipresent Churches visible in most places could be the testimony to the monolithic role they play in Naga society and politics - perhaps much akin to the once flourishing monoliths of the Kacharis once upon a time.