Lezo Putsure ~ Inspiring Change

Not many people grow up with clear, defined goals in their minds but when they do, there is always a success story to it. Lezo Putsure knew exactly what he wanted from life right from his boyhood days. He was certain that he would join the business league someday, but interestingly from a different dimension that most of us may not be too familiar with, and yet, essentially a role that is much needed today.

He represents a generation of change that goes beyond the realm of sticking to one idea. What he really does revolves around adding value to things, people or organization. As a Change Consultant, he looks into building efficient systems and handling the whole transition of change.

The influence, he confesses, certainly comes from his late father, who was a businessman himself. Perhaps, that’s really where his base and love for the occupation began. But without a doubt, it is his own passion that has driven him to where he is today.

“I always wanted a job where I can travel, paid pretty decent, stay in good hotels…” he says, even as he earnestly talks about enjoying the job that he does, which simultaneously meets the greater purpose of motivating change for good. He has been part of this process for almost a decade now, having started off in Bangalore, where he also studied Bachelor of Commerce at Baldwin’s College and thereafter a part time MBA at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore.

Lezo moved to Mumbai on promotion as a Consultant for Accenture in 2005, where he worked for a couple of years. Recalling this period, he expresses that moving from Bangalore to Mumbai was a bit of a culture change, owing to more ambitious mindset of people there. “I realized I wanted to do even more”, he affirms, primarily because, learning for him forms an essential part of life. And hence, he went on to study MBA from London South Bank University in the United Kingdom.

Alongside, he freelanced and did projects for clients, and worked with Chinese and European Consultants while in the UK. But along the way, he decided to come home, thinking, “If I am doing it for people outside, why not for my own people…”

Beaming still, with fresh concepts, the MBA Graduate from London South Bank University recalls connecting with Youth Net in the early part of 2011, and making special mention of the effervescent young leader, Hekani Jakhalu, he says, “Personally I believe I have connected with the right organization and the right people.” “My experience with Youth Net has just been amazing and we really want to take it to another level, where we can also perform as an organisation and touch as many people as possible”, he adds.

Consequently, he has set up his own firm under the banner, “Smarter Nagaland”, which, he enlightens, ‘is an organisation that believes in doing things smarter, by filling the little gaps that makes small differences.” Having tied up with Youth Net for all youths along with a Nagaland Career Centre, he further highlights that the Institution would focus on soft skills like communication, emails, work ethics, confidence building, with the aim to build our own Human Resource.

He loves the part of his job where he’s got the ownership, independence, flexibility, and entirely up to you how it grows. Fortunately for him, he was also exposed to relatives from outside at a tender age as he did his schooling from Dr. Graham’s Home in Darjeeling, which, might have helped in broadening his horizons to some extent.

The optimist in him believes that “as a state, we will really shine.” “We’ve got a good future and if each one of us can do a little bit for ourselves, our families, Nagaland can really do well”, he states, as he throws emphasis on the need to realise that there are lots of opportunities.

He is happy to see a small transition of change as he deliberates on how people today, understand that education and employment are very important. Towards this end, he also feels that “private jobs can do so much more…it’s slow but very evident, problems are getting older and dying out”, he exerts.

Although, in a matter-of-fact tone yet light-hearted vein he remarks, “Like they say, in England, they are all Football Experts or in India, they are all Cricket Experts, Nagas likewise are all Political Governance Experts.” Regardless, Lezo insists, “I have travelled to quite a few places around the world, but I’ve never seen any government as supportive as Nagaland Government.”

A youth-friendly government, as it is often known, he also feels that the declaration of 2012 as the Year of the Youth is a “Good Movement.” In the meantime, he is really happy about the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, while accentuating that every organisation deserves to be generating avenue, ‘…the whole rating cycle where you motivate your best performers, and lowest performers are replaced because there are a lot of people waiting for jobs’, while putting across that “the environment here is such that even our elders keep spoon feeding us, work also becomes a relaxed thing. Outside, it’s all about innovations, strengthening, cutting out extra fat and ensuring you got right people for the right job”.

Ten years from now, it is his dream to see a really professional state. “I would like to see a Smarter State, which is more Professional and can add value, cut away fat…” he says as he goes back to indulging in future plans to build more institutes that have Management Process, Good Local and Outside Consultants.

His motto in life circles around Learning, Innovation and Change. Being an avid traveller, he also hopes to travel once in a while to see what’s happening outside, and maybe study a few short term courses and keep learning.

When asked how it feels to be based at home, the young Change Agent, fuelled by energy and passion simply states, “Just the feeling of working with my own people, trying to do small things and learning makes me happy.”

Lipokmar Tzudir ~ The Choir Maestro

Music, for him is the outflow of the best human soul. But growing up, Lipokmar Tzudir never imagined there could be a career in music even as he confesses that it was only after joining Patkai in 1995 that he realized there is such a thing called ‘professional musician’ and that, until then, he thought he wanted to become a Lawyer or an Army or even a Theologian.

And almost with a tone of disappointment, he says, “when I realised that I had some talents in music, I was already 17 years old- too late to compete with others who grew up under professional tutelage. I was full of envy and regret for never having such opportunities and guidance.  Therefore I shoved aside the idea despite spending more time in singing than studying.”

But as they say, it’s never too late to follow a dream, he did resolve to pursue a career in music when he was about to finish studies in Patkai. Yet, with a little tinge of regret, he expresses “I was nearing 22 and felt hopeless, but it was divine intervention that prompted me to embark on something I so love to do.”

And this was how he went on to finish his Bachelor of Music in conducting and composition at Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, Philippines prior to receiving a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Sheffield, UK. There, he was part of the Holme Valley Singers, which was already a reputed choir in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, under James Morgan who had led the choir with great style and passion for over 25 years.

Reminiscing on this, he says, “I knew that it was clearly going to be a hard act to follow. This was a choir that had been performing perhaps even before I learned nursery rhymes. But to my utter surprise and Joy, they were a bunch of lovely people: humble, organized and committed. They showed me a lot of love and respect as much as I had for them. And I owe them a fortune for some amazing performances during my one year stint as their Music Director.”

However, he left the choir after a while, and in his words, “with a lot of regret as we were gearing up for a major choral competition (which they won), but looking back at it now, I believe, I made the right choice to come back home to my calling.”

Back home, he is known as the brainchild behind the famed “Mokokchung Chancel Choir”. So, how did this really come about? Not many people perhaps know that he was offered admissions and scholarship for master in Conducting at the Columbus State University, USA, which was scheduled to commence from July 2005.

But since he had been away for more than 5 years in the Philippines, he decided 'why don't I go home and do something with my people before I go to the USA'. That February, he came home with the ambition to train a few singers at home and possibly do a concert before he left for the USA in July.

Recalling the beginning of this venture, he remembers sharing the idea with a friend who gave him a very negative response- “What could you possibly do in 3 months?”  But this served as a driving point for him and I told himself- 'I'll show you what I can do in 3 months' and that's how we started Mokokchung Chancel Choir. By April, they already got an offer to perform in a Choral festival in Delhi.

He speaks kindly of Pastor Bendang Jamir, who helped him go door to door scouting for singers before they managed to assemble about 30 singers. “They were not so talented, nor had any training whatsoever, many were school drop-outs, but one thing I told them was: 'give me your passion and I will help you do great things'- sure enough we got both!”

This is what will does! Even if it takes rehearsing intensively 3 to 4 hours every day as he recalls, “it was literally sweat and tears but by God's grace, our hard work paid off. We stood out in the choral festival and that served as a reckoning moment. I decided to decline the USA offer as I felt it would be unfair to leave the choir behind after all the hard work they endured. It was therefore only in 2007 that I decided to pursue my masters, which eventually was at the University of Sheffield, UK.”

By now, the Mokokchung Chancel Choir has done more than 80 shows outside Nagaland, which, he feels has mostly been rewarding owing to better concert halls and state of the art sound system although there were a few episodes of disappointments with accommodation and travels but those, he says are expected once in a while when you travel with a big group.

“Appreciation and understanding of the choral art has also been more receptive outside Nagaland which unfortunately should be otherwise. When we perform in places like Delhi or Chennai the audiences there look out for new ideas but at home it's just the opposite. Our people look out mostly for familiar ideas, which actually is shallow”, he puts across.

Although the state has been less receptive of his enormous talent, he has certainly come a long way performing for many great events including Asia-Pacific choral symposium at Singapore with the Philippine Chamber Choir in 2002, International Choral Festival at Manila with the Asian Ensemble in 2004, Choral Music of the North-East in Delhi with Mokokchung Chancel Choir in 2005, “Bhakti Utsav” (International singing festival) Nehru Park, New Delhi with Mokokchung Chancel Choir in 2006, Music arranger and Conductor at the first and second Octave Festivals at Delhi and Hydrabad respectively during 2006-2007, Conductor of North-East singers at New York ‘Celebrating India’s 60 years of Independence’ in 2007, Concerts at Brodsworth, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Barnsley: UK, with the Holme Valley Singers as Music Director/ Conductor in 2008, Performed at India premiere of Mack Wilberg’s Tres Cantus Laudendi, in Dimapur and Kohima with the Patkai Chorale in 2009, Concerts in various cities of India with Mokokchung Chancel Choir,  and Patkai Chorale in 2010 and numerous concerts in various cities of India with Nagaland Singing Ambassadors, performed at the International Culture Mix festival with 50 singers from the Scandinavian countries and Nagaland Singing Ambassadors through 2011.

It comes as no surprise that he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi's 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' in 2006, which is a national recognition for contribution in choral music. And then, only recently, the Governor’s Award for excellence in Music but when asked how he feels about this, he wistfully says, “I learned that in 2006 Mr. Abhishek Singh (former DC of Mokokchung) nominated me for the same award. I selfishly and mistakenly felt I deserved it at that time, but when I finally receive it in 2011, I feel there are people who deserve it more than I do.” “We render service to our people and country not for awards or accolades, but once in a while when such honour comes our way, it simply inspires us to do even more”, the music maestro has to say.

Regardless of the many feats he has achieved, when asked what it takes to be where he is today, he simply states, “I cleaned toilets and chimneys, mobbed floors, washed dishes, ran chores for others, besides studying and practicing over sleepless nights and still do, to be where I am now... It is all worth it!” And yes, he never forgets that he was born and raised in Mokokchung town to hardworking parents whose primary goal was to give their four sons decent education despite their meager income.

And just in case we are still thinking Music in Nagaland is more of a hobby that almost everybody is part of in church or something, then, he discards this notion by saying, “to become a musician is much more than interest and hobby. It is a way of life and one needs discipline, focus, commitment, determination and above all else- Talent. Many youngsters jump into the game without realizing their talents and often get burned out when real pressure and competition crops up.”

Music, he also asserts is not about winning competitions or acquiring certificates but an embodiment and manifestation of God's artistry. One can't just take it for granted. “It needs to have a focus or goal. Music helps each one of us find our unique social niche, bringing us together with other folks that share similar interests", he maintains.

He is now entirely committed together with James Shikiye Swu to establish Nagaland Conservatory of Music that will offer bachelor of music degree commencing this July 2012.  “Five years from now, I pray that we will have enough resources to introduce music as a curriculum in all the schools in Nagaland in collaboration with Nagaland State government”, he hopes.

The vibrant youth, who loves watching football and is a diehard fan of Liverpool FC is looking forward to see Nagaland Premier League kickoff besides his thriving music career.

Stephen Lotha ~ The Style Guru

Fashion for him is more than academics even as Stephen Lotha recalls how he was fascinated by beautiful things from his childhood. He simultaneously started sketching gowns at a tender age of 9 and engrossed himself in fashion magazines.

As the conversation begins, he confesses “I love beautiful things, Marilyn Monroe, beautiful shoes etc” although when asked, if becoming a Stylist had always been his ambition, he was quick to say, “I wanted to be a star, flashbulbs, autographs and all, but it would have been scary if I had a sense of direction; it would have been dreadful if I grew up knowing everything, but yes, I was sure I wanted to be on TV or something like that.”

Talking of his childhood, he simply states, “I was a regular kid growing up; others wouldn’t agree because I was flamboyant, expressive and cheeky and with a single mother for a parent.” “It’s probably because my life as a kid was never rosy that it inspired me to be hungry for all things beautiful…because I knew there exists a world of fantasy out there”, he says.

So what does a Stylist really do? And he explains that a stylist puts together a look, from head to toe. In his words, it’s been a good 3 years now since he started working as a Freelance Stylist but still, with that enthusiasm, he adds “it feels like I have just started.” “I don’t feel that I have nailed it yet, but to be at a good place anywhere it is essential to be madly passionate and love what you do, love who you are”, he says.

He considers himself fortunate enough to have worked at Wills Fashion Week for three seasons as a stylist, and also having done Ad Campaigns for renowned brands like Adidas, Polo, Nestle, Honda, Yamaha among others. To add to his thriving career, the lively youth also has to his credit, a cover shoot with an International Sportswear Magazine. No wonder then, that he has worked with one of the best photographers in the industry. But to all these credentials, he gracefully says “I am so thankful for every minute”.

For him, the most challenging aspect of being a Stylist is to think beyond- “it’s a competitive place out here, so whether you are having a bad hair day or splitting headache you need to perform.” But then, he insists on trying to enjoy every minute of what he is doing and that, he says, gets him through.

When asked to share the most enriching experience in his profession, he expresses “I loved my stint at India fashion week, the energy, the madness, the glamour and every single second of everything.”

As he pulled on in his career with the fascination to be on TV, he also says, “I knew it from then that none of my uncles or aunties who are working in offices will ever get where I want to, so I knew that I have to take the other road and I did. I always thought I was great, the best and that belief is what pushed me.”

Indeed, the belief in oneself is so direly important to get people where they dream to be. Towards this end, he leaves with a message that goes- “This is to all kids who want to do different things in life, if you have a crazy dream, if there is a voice inside you telling you that you might be able to do something, maybe a James Cameron, Oscar de la Renta, or Yuri Gagarin, or Steve Jobs or anything there is, listen to that voice, keep praying, keep believing, keep at it, keep fighting, your dreams are yours if you would just stand up for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you nothing because you are your own hero in this crazy world. Every dream starts somewhere; mine started in a small dingy room in a small town tucked in nothingness.”

With this, the lively 27 year old, who also loves writing and reading up everything on celebrities from Snooki to Kate Middleton, closes with a future plan to start his own clothing line, “a crazy one”, he insists.

And for one last question, when asked if he plans to come home in the near future, he reflectively says, “I’ll never be far away from home, that’s all I can say. My hometown is my blessing”.

Lipok Aier

His works show traces of inspiration drawn from the rich cultural heritage that is consciously or unconsciously embedded in the life of a Naga. Lipok Aier comes from a younger generation that compels competition even as he remembers how he first participated in an Art competition as a small school boy of Class-IV.

Unmindful of the fact that he did not win in the competition, this was perhaps an exercise that shaped him to face greater challenges in the days to come. His fascination for Art goes back to his early childish days, having blessed with a background of family who were Artists in their own special ways. Naturally, he feels that he grew up in such an influential environment that has also been instrumental in instilling the love of Art in him.

At 22, one can say he has achieved something because not every Artist’s work is good enough to share a space in the State Museum. For the lad from Waromung Village under Mokokchung district, this feat comes as a result of attending a one week Seminar held under the banner “Output”. Two of his works, which he created during this period are part of the prestigious house of Art in the state capital.

Talking about these, he explains that one of his works is a sketch called “Preserving Identity” while the other is a Painting that talks about love, peace, friendship and hate simultaneously. The former is a piece of work that involves several elements of the Naga tradition even as he enlightens on the various symbols found in the sketch such as the Tree, that represents the nature of Nagaland, the face of a Girl representing Beauty, a Shield that encapsulates tribal dancing and such other symbols like the Bull, Hornbill Feather, etc, all in a piece of work.

Art, according to him is “a way of expressing myself, which I cannot express through words”. Indeed, a picture, they say is worth more than a thousand words. He also likes Tattoing, while strongly emphasizing that it is also part of Art. This, he hays has not been favourable in our present society, but insists that tattoing has been there since our forefathers’ time….”it’s in the culture”, he strictly maintains.

The other side of him loves music, not simply but keenly. He is part of a Band, which, he formed along with a friend some years ago. Their music falls in the category of a genre called “Trance-Core Metal”. Simply called “Fear me Dear”, the Band has performed several gigs in the past in Kohima with him as the Bassist.

But the Artist in him seems to have emerged stronger, even as he confesses that although music and sketching/painting are all some kind of art, his passion lies greater in the latter. Currently a Diploma Student of Animation in the Arena Animation Koromongla at Bangalore, he is also fascinated by the modern tools of Art.

Mention may be made here that he was also trained at Aries Studio, Dimapur under British Filmmaker and Animator, Tara Douglas, who made the first Naga Animation Movie called “Man, Tiger, Spirit” launched during last Glocal Film Festival at Kohima.

He seems happy with the several platforms for Art being given by the State Government through Art and Culture while indicating these as immense opportunities to exhibit one’s artistic skills. To which end, he also feels that the youths of today should indulge more often in their talents in positive ways.

The mantra for him seems to lie in “Practice and Work Hard”, which, he feels should be everybody’s guide to success. When asked how he wishes to contribute to the society through his Art, he simply states his desire to become a Better Artist, because, for him, when one becomes a better artist, people know them, and when they do, the society at large is also benefitted.

He is a lad of few words but charmingly engrosses himself in the world of Art, which is evident even in the way his eyes light up when he starts talking about the subject. His work, sure does show sign of promise for greater things to come.