AA Angh, the Local Inventor

He is an inventor of sorts but had gone unnoticed the last decade even with numerous creations tugged under his belt. A.A. Angh is a self-made man who studied the importance of local resources and skillfully made use of it.

The simple man from Longleng district had always been drawn to art since childhood, which is evident from the awards he already gathered as a young boy studying in Class 1. He went on to receive an Artist Award in Standard IV when he was studying in King Dewitt School in Dimapur.

But more than painting that he was lauded for when he was younger, he developed intense liking for crafting which he took up without any second thoughts. He never got any formal training as such in this aspect, but the little discoveries he has made through sheer experience is worthy of mention.

He recalls crafting his first finished product, which is an Almirah he skillfully made when he was still in High School. Interestingly, he still uses it till date and when asked whether there was anybody behind his crafting, he simply says that “it is God’s Gift”.

In the year 2000, he decided to open a Workshop in Phunyu village in Longleng district which has reaped multiple benefits by now. Next to his name, he calls this “A.Akai Angh Craft, Manufacturer of Traditional and Modern Bamboo and Animal Horn Craft”. Although less heard of in the state, he has been up to many interesting crafting and has employed about 20 people by now.

The most interesting aspect however lies in the fact that he has well conceptualized the idea of using animal horns for several purposes, especially those of buffalo. This is thought to be something that has not been used in the same manner anywhere else in the world. He has been experimenting on this for the past last decade and has found it particularly resourceful for the simple fact that animals have always been targeted for consumption purpose.

In this regard, he goes on to explain that key-holders worth Rs.300-400 can be made from a single piece horn. Over the years, he has experimented with buffalo horns in numerous ways and out of it, produced interesting finished products like lamps, which can be used both by fueling either kerosene or electric charger. He also expresses that these lamps are 25% more economic than the rest.

He has designed items such as stands for pens, soap cases, horn earrings, tools for cleaning fish, etc besides other bigger things like stools and tables, revolving chairs etc and has also participated in the International Trade Fair at New Delhi in 2009. Both International and National Customers were seemingly so fascinated by the items he put up in the stall during this time that he managed to sell everything he carried there including lamps, revolving chairs etc.

He considers himself a “Town Chokra” (in his own words) and maintains that once he sets his mind and heart into something (either good or bad), he would seriously pursue it anyway. Lucky for him, this was something that he pursued for the greater good.

With varied experiences in crafting items out of animal horns, he emphasizes that “horns are very precious” and insists that “we have to save it”. For the most part, he is happy that the people of Longleng save animal horns for him and he gets it for free to further cut, design and craft something beautiful and useful out of it. He goes on to add that these horns are very hard to cut but he has well made use of machine-tiles cutter by way of soaking the horns in the water for about a week or so before getting to the real business.

He sees great prospect in the unassuming local resources that the state has and seriously points out that everything including  broken buckets, plastic containers etc are useful. “We have nothing to throw away because everything can be re-used to create something new”, he expresses. 

Another interesting thing he has lately been up to is inventing local gum. This, he says is made with the blend of 4 chemicals including fevicol (which is used as the main support), stone powder, cement powder oxide and hardener liquid). This new invention of his also fixes broken water syntax.

Having taught a few trainees in the recently held World Bamboo Festival in Dimapur, it is his desire to impart his knowledge and skills to interested youths of Nagaland, if given the opportunity. To this end, he also says that “I want to lift the unemployed youths of the state and engage them in meaningful employment as there are many ways we can make a livelihood out of simple wastes”.

Further expressing that now, even the backward tribes are full of educated people who are still unemployed, he wishes to impart trainings to these young people while also expressing his hope for a proper platform to enable him teach his skills, and knowledge of crafting he has gained from a wide range of experience.

He does lament that everybody has discouraged him for taking this up seriously but acknowledges the support of his wife, without him, he says he wouldn’t get this far. He is willing to go beyond the walls of Nagaland to train people in the North East or anywhere else if the need ever arises.

Confident that even women can skillfully take this up, he hopes to further expand his avenues of crafting in the near future.