Bong-Naga !! And all that in between.

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Dimapur – A place that just isn’t home, it’s an emotion in itself. I was born, brought up and spoilt there. There are many adjectives I can use, but the word ‘Home’ in itself sums it up. A place which contradicts itself in more than one way, from being one of the largest cities of Northeast India, to a place where there are more potholes than roads and more vehicles than pedestrians.

That apart, being born and raised in Dimapur was not just a blessing; it was perhaps the good karma of my previous life. A third generation ‘Plain Maanu’, that’s what I am. While growing up I had never known or heard of this particular categorization. More than being just another non-local, or as I am often referred to – ‘Plain Maanu’ , I consider myself a ‘Naga’, not by birth, not by blood but by heart, by choice, just for the immense love I have for the people, the culture and the place.

I was raised amongst the Nagas, studied in a convent, and it never felt odd, from conversing with them in Nagamese, to sharing whatever we had in our lunchboxes, never did I feel out of place. From developing the taste for smoked pork to my musical choice, it was all influenced by them. The Naga sense of humor is unique, and this to an extent influenced my sarcastic behavior.
From Cobain to Axl Rose at school to Rabindra Sangeet at home, it was kind of a mixed upbringing I had. The way I eat, talk, dress, sing, interact with people and even my sense of humor has that peculiar intrinsic Naga essence in it. The aroma of bamboo shoots, axone and anishe is something I grew up on. I still go around looking for places where they serve Naga Cuisine; the love affair with ‘baas tenga’ and ‘akhuni’ shall never end. So much so that I’ll always prefer pork with bamboo shoot over Bhapa Illish.

The only thing that perhaps then differentiated me and to this day is the way I look, the way I think is still and will continue to be like any other Naga guy of my generation.
That said, and talking of mixed upbringing, Nagas all around at school and a typical conservative Bengali way of life at home, it wasn’t confusing but rather a multi-dimensional way of shaping myself, my thought process up and the stamp remains. To this day, a Bengali Bhadralok and a Naga Warrior keep contradicting each other, but as they say it’s all in the mind. I relish both the Bhapa Illish and the pork with bamboo shoot, with a mug of rice beer.

To this day, my college mates address me as ‘Naga’, from the gate-man of the college to my HoD never knew my name, my identity – a guy from Nagaland, who eats pork, listens to metal, and dresses like a punk. I loved the name, I still do, and for them I will always be ‘Naga’. An identity that will forever remain etched in the minds of people who knew me in college, not just another guy I was, however mediocre I might have been, my identity of being someone from a place they had only heard of did make me feel special, it did make me love my place of birth even more. As, I write this piece I feel proud as the Chancellor of my University happens to be a Naga himself.

But yes, there was an identity crisis brewing within, who was I? I have lots of Naga friends with whom I get along extremely well, drink, dance and make them parcel home cooked pork too, but there were a few who did question my identity, ‘Plain Maanu’ after all, and perhaps for the first time in 28 years it made me think, ponder and contemplate, I found the question utterly disgusting, that tag just too racist. And then, I found my answer too, if there were just a couple of them questioning, tagging and labeling me, I had perhaps hundreds of others who knew me, know me. Nagas, who knew what I was, not just another ‘Plain Maanu’; but one like them, although not genetically, but by choice had embraced the Naga way of life. And, talking of people being racists, we all are, perhaps there are more ethnic clashes in India than anywhere else in the world. So, just another question, another tag won’t let me down, it’s all in the mind and especially for me it’s all in the heart. A NAGA by heart I am, I don’t need to flaunt it, don’t have to show it. My looks can’t and won’t define my identity ever. A Bong and a Naga, that’s me, how much of what? I have no answers for that.

P.S: Yes, I am a Plain Maanu (non-local), I am proud of it and I am equally proud of being raised in Nagaland. That’s my identity, crisis for you probably. And it doesn’t bother me. What I am bothered about is the quantity of rice beer in the mug right now, refill please!!

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Published by abhishek purkayastha

Seeking the unseekable..

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46 thoughts on “Bong-Naga !! And all that in between.”

    2. Abhi great writing… And yes U are a plain manu coz u cant deny the fact But u are more like a Naga manu according to me . 🙊🙊🙊.. Keep writing!!

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  2. Dear “Bengali Bhadralok”,

    I loved your piece. It does sum up the Indian diaspora living in Nagaland. Though we may think of the state as home, perhaps we will always be seen as “non-locals”, which in itself is a derogatory term! I guess the key is just focussing on being happy, and living life to the fullest…never allowing anyone to rain on your parade.🙂

    I wrote a piece addressing a similar issue. Do give it a read if you got time – http://morungexpress.com/being-a-non-local/

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    1. Thank you for the feedback, but this local, non-local thing exists everywhere. And I did go through your piece as well, I did my engineering in Odisha, worked in the west of India, South of India and trust me, this exists everywhere. When it comes to people tagging me something, as I mentioned, it’s absolutely how I take it. If there are a few people questioning me, I have perhaps others as well who know what I am. And yes!! the key lies in being happy, and happiness is where my home is. That sums it up.
      Thanks for the comment.
      Cheers !!.

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  5. The Naga… Bro even that was my nick name in the college… But thoroughly loved it.. I mean the name and your piece too…and yes pork with bamboo shoot over Bhapa Illish, anytime..

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  8. Your best piece of work till date. And it is true for all the bongs born and raised in the North East. The only difference is you being called as ‘plain manuh’ and i being called ‘haring’ and other such words for the respective states. Keep going. Cheers.

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  10. Good one re! Keep writing….. you have it!!! I totally can relate to what you said, a part if me still remains in kohima even after over a decade in the US.

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  11. Abhishek awesome piece.
    ‘Naga at heart’; yes that’s what we are. The place we call ‘home’ sums up a similar feeling.
    I guess this ‘plain maanu’ thing had always been there. But this is how ‘naga maanu’ are, straightforward and honest. All the places i have been to, I realised that such feelings of ‘locals’ and non locals do exist (for various reasons). Nonetheless I also love Nagaland (more specifically Dimapur) more than anywhere else in this world.
    Thanks man for summing it up for all of us. And keep up the good work.

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  13. Tried pork with bamboo shots in different places but now after ur so much of
    ” bamboo shots” will try this time in its origin place.
    Nxt summer for sure m coming to Dimapur,
    Place of my frnds.
    Place of talent.
    U will remain Naga….

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  14. Your blog is really good,thanz for writing dis ,after a long time read a article wic i could relate to!! Looking forward for more mind freshner!!

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  16. While going through the content, I couldn’t put my teeth in and I was always blushing because I faced similar situations when I visited my granny’s house…….my maternal uncles called me “Nagi”….
    One more thing….how dare u compare between ‘akhuni’ and ‘bhapa ilish’…..its like choosing between Henry Cavill and Brandon Routh as the groom….
    Very nice Abhi……..u r a changed man….

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  17. Good one ,it will definitely touch everyone who been bought updere as plain Manu….
    It’s an different Identity gives you when you are in other state specially
    Awesome

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  19. Hi! Abhi,
    I felt like reading my own life. Born in Nagaland to Bengali Parents but learning Nagamese before Bengali.
    Travelled the whole country for education and Job but still a Naga at heart. I felt so connected, please continue writing. You are too good.

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