Tsukti Longkumer

What a meager rupees 100 failed to do in many people’s lives, Tsukti Longkumer made it a significant entry into his enterprising career, now spanning over a decade. He did not become the army officer he dreamt about as he was growing up, but he certainly grew to love the profession he eventually chose, which is now largely manifested in the service oriented business he indulges in, such as the Hospitality sector, Printing & Stationers, Rental & Catering Services.

It was a career guidance seminar he attended right after he graduated in the year 1996 that motivated him to take up private entrepreneurship. Recalling this decision, he confesses that he would not have it any other way. He received the sum of Rs.100 as a mascot gift in the seminar he attended. It was M.B Longkumer, a renowned businessman in Mokokchung, who came as resource person and gifted him the amount besides encouraging him with inspirational tips and advices. To this end, he fondly remembers him and his teacher and mentor, Akok Walling, who he says have been a source of inspiration and unmistakably ignited the interest of business in him.

June 26, 1996 is an important day for him even as he recalls going to the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank (NSCB) to open a current bank account with the mascot gift but his application was rejected since the minimum amount required to open the account then was Rs. 250/-. This led him to borrowing a sum of Rs.150/- from his parents, enabling him to successfully open his first current bank account with the NSCB under the banner, Longpok Enterprises.

“I deposited Rs. 250 (Two Hundred Fifty only) that day, so you can say I started business with that sum sixteen long years ago. 5 months later, I attended a 3 months’ Screen Printing Training at Guwahati in the later part of 1996 and started a small in-house Screen Printing Unit with an initial investment of Rs.3000/- which was later shifted to I.M Road, Mokokchung”, he says. Later on, he was also trained on “Entrepreneurship, Self Employment and Small Scale Industries” at the National Institute of Small Industries Extension Training (NISIET), Yousufguda, Hyderabad.

It is however, interesting to note that he never attended any formal business school prior to this, but ventured into the profession without any business degree or experience, and which is why, it is also noteworthy that he has come a long way with a very humble beginning of Rs.100/-.

Today, he is into his 17th year into business, which, he insists is not without struggle. “It has been a struggle, because most of the local customers prefer to do business with non-locals in and outside the state. Moreover, loans from the banks and financial assistance from the Government to upgrade the business were denied”, he explains.

And yet, it is by God’s grace, he says that his business components function under the following names- Longpok Offset Press, Hotel Whispering Winds, Longpok Framings and Laminations, and Longpok Tent House & Catering Services respectively, and has also extended employment opportunities to 32 young people.

Although, he started his enterprise with a financially zero deficit or debt record, with no bank loan, he is however pleased to see that over the last 16 years of its establishment and growth, there is no record of any Debts or Liabilities with any Financial Institutions.                 

He would describe himself as “Sincere, hardworking and ambitious but sometimes too blunt.” Well, one can say his dedication, hard work and honesty have certainly paid off today. For him, a normal day for a business man is made of ‘Low purchasing power in the market hence low transaction makes a businessman sometimes dull, without any challenges’ but he clearly enjoys interacting with different types of people each day and catering to their needs, which, he confesses is also what he likes most about his job.

“However, it is not an easy task to satisfy all the customers all the time, it is a challenge dealing with those customers who wants the BEST at the CHEAPEST rate and at the EARLIEST possible time”, he expresses.

Nonetheless, he is glad that young people are today showing keen interest in entrepreneurship, which he terms as ‘a very positive and welcome development’. He says that there are unlimited business opportunities open to those who are willing to become entrepreneurs in Nagaland, although noting that the only setback is the lack of capital for start-ups. “This is one area where the financial institutions need to recheck their policy. The government must also devise some entrepreneur-friendly programs”, he emphasizes.

He also remarks that it is very unfortunate that the society gives undue importance to government jobs. In his words, “it is not that hard to survive on a private venture if you got your plans well laid out”. Either way, his mantra in life has been, “there is not short-cut to achieving success. You have to work hard.”

In his future kit, one will find plans that include introduction of new business ventures that will promote Mokokchung as a commercial hub for the northern region of Nagaland. Tsukti Longkumer is also actively involved with the Rotary Club, Mokokchung District Arts & Council (MDACC), Associates for Performing Arts and Theatricals (APAT), Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Trainer/Resource Person in workshops and seminars on entrepreneurship and self-employment programs.

He has represented India during the Trades and Investment Conclave between NE India and Myanmar, held at Yangoon, 2012 and a Recipient of Rotary Club Vocational Excellence Award 2000, Rotary Foundation Service Award for Rendering Service Promoting its Goal of World Understanding and Peace, 2009 and Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award from the Government of Nagaland, 2010.