Author: Arepla Jamir

NYIT Graduate Dominica Jamir from Nagaland Shares Her Excitement about AR and VR Going Mainstream – and Launching Her Own Company in New York

Published by Arepla Jamir

Interview by Supong Arep Growing up in Dimapur Nagaland, 25-year old Tiajungla Dominica Jamir discovered early on that she had a natural flair for computers, gaming – and everything tech. That led her to pursue a computer science degree in Bengaluru. But what we are about to chat about is the interesting journey she undertook post her graduation.  Being the ambitious go-getter that she is, she started exploring deeper into her interests in new-age technologies. That’s when she decided to go for a master’s degree in UX/UI Design and Development, from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), New York City in 2019. She recently graduated summa cum laude (an honorary title used by educational institutions to signify a degree that was earned “with the highest distinction.”) and was the only Indian orator selected from among graduating students to speak at the NYIT 2021 Commencement. She is now on her way to becoming an entrepreneur by co-founding her own AR & VR based startup in NYC.  We chat with Dominica Jamir to get to know …

Rootsandleisure_Runway Nagaland-profile

Meet Nengneithem Hengna, the Woman Behind ‘Runway Nagaland’ – the Most Accessible Brand for Naga Jewelry and Handlooms.

Published by Arepla Jamir

“Dare to live the life you have dreamt for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Today we have Nengneithem Hengna – founder of ‘Runway Nagaland’ who has been quietly making her mark through her jewelry and handloom business. Her venture is run by an all-women team, which started out as a humble store in Nagaland to market local jewelry outside the state. Today, they have three different brands that offer an eclectic collection of traditional Naga jewelry, handwoven crafts, and premium contemporary pieces – that are loved by locals and customers across the country.   Just like their creations, Runway Nagaland continues to be awe-inspiring through its contribution to local employment and women’s empowerment. It’s no wonder that Nengneithem Hengna confidently confirms that she is living her dream life! So – let’s meet the woman behind it all. Here’s a brief chat with the founder, Nengneithem Hengna from Nagaland.  Nengneithem Hengna- Founder of ‘Runway Nagaland’ Supong: Hi, welcome to R&L! So excited about this chat with you finally! Please …

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Imrongtuden aka IMXRNG from Nagaland Talks About Creating Lo-fi Music and His Bold Musical Ambitions

Published by Arepla Jamir

One of our greatest gifts that is solely ours is our ability to dream; while some toil to make their dreams come true, some blend into the shadows of fear and frustration. So it is encouraging to see some brave hearts go against adversaries in pursuit of their dreams – however odd or bold they may seem. A friend of mine is one such courageous soul, who has made the bold decision to take the path of resistance to follow his passion for music. I’d like to introduce you to Imrongtuden from Dimapur, who is an aspiring musician/Producer/DJ. Apart from his musical talent, he is also known among his circle for his creativity, hard work, and curiosity. He plays the piano pretty proficiently as well, and makes great Anime art. Let’s find out more about him, his music and more. Session Musician and Lo-fi producer Imrongtuden from Nagaland Supong: We can only ever start something by truly knowing the person, to start it off would you like to tell us a little about yourself. Imrongtuden: …

Rootsandleisure_Florence Lohu

Naga Tribes and Their Colorful Costumes Come Alive Through These Stunning Artwork by Florence Lohu from Nagaland

Published by Arepla Jamir

“Every good painter paints what he is.” — Jackson Pollock Introducing our bubbly and talented artist Florence Lohu from Nagaland. A self-taught watercolorist, her work truly is magnificent – in the way, she fills the hearts and minds of her viewers. I find her work truly artistic, and equally informative. Among her numerous sketches, the ones that stand out are the colorful illustrations on Nagaland, which have been, by far, the most captivating medium to learn about the numerous Naga tribes – and their one-of-a-kind array of costumes. To get a better sense of what I am talking about, I invite you to read on as I chat with Florence – and give you a glimpse of her artwork.  Chat with watercolorist Florence Lohu from Nagaland, known for her colorful illustrations on various tribes of Nagaland. Supong: Hi Florence, welcome to R&L! Please introduce yourself. Florence: Hi! I am Florence Lohu, a self-taught aspiring watercolorist. I belong to the Mao Naga tribe and was born and brought up in Kohima Nagaland. I am currently freelance …

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“Some Poems are as Bright as the Glaring Sun, While Some are as Dark as Our Struggles” – Nongwarngam Chinir from Manipur Talks About his Newly Launched Book “Labyrinth”

Published by Arepla Jamir

“Some poems reflect dreams that are as ambitious as the glaring sun, some will depict the darkness we all struggle to keep at bay; may you find yourself in this Labyrinth” – Nongwarngam Chinir I had the pleasure to share a little warm conversation with this soulful writer Nongwarngam Chinir who recently published his debut book entitled “Labyrinth” – a collection of poems about stories from the eyes of strangers, of love, of courage, of finding the deeper meaning of life, about finding one’s way through this labyrinth called life.  Our young aspiring author introduces himself as an activist, a humanitarian, an old soul but above all just a normal guy who is trying to achieve his dreams in a world filled with chaos. Join me as I take a journey down memory lane with Nong of how this wonderful book was born.  Nongwarngam Chinir – Author of the newly launched book “Labyrinth” Arep: First, congratulations on getting your book published! Please introduce yourself to our readers. N. Chinir: My name is Nongwarngam Chinir, I …

rootsandleisure_lentina

This Is How Local Folks Are Beating The Cold Weather In Style!

Published by Arepla Jamir

It’s almost the season again, of hot cocoa and baked cookies, of the carols and the lights, of warmth and love but most of all for experimenting and layering up! Today we bring to you some of our favorite winter trends from R&L folks from around the world.  Lentina Constance from Nagaland is a stylish mother of two, living in France. She loves food, traveling, fashion, and everything in between! For winters, she adores her puff sleeves, knitwear, and dark floral. Here, she is wearing her oversized knitted sweater and flowy black skirt with tights and boots.  “I appreciate the cozy yet chic approach to cold-weather dressing. There’s nothing quite like a new jumper to make you feel the warmth from a mother’s embrace. Knitwear has sartorial superpowers that shouldn’t be overlooked. After all, what else can instantly transform floaty midi dresses and printed skirts into seasonally appropriate attire? or can instantly update your jeans and trainers combination? Summer’s take on the floral dress errs on the side of pale interesting, with white base colour …

Discover a New World Through Cosplay – a Chat With the Founder of the Nagaland Anime Junkies (NAJ), Biebe Natso

Published by Arepla Jamir

With the Annual Cosfest coming to an end, you might think it’s the end of another beautiful chapter for NAJ. But it’s only the beginning! Many people attend cosfests across seasons, be it summer or winter. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest events in Nagaland. And its backbone is certainly this club Nagaland Anime Junkies! Today we have the founder of the club, Biebe Natso, here to enlighten us with their journey.     Tell us how this club came to be? I wish we had a deep and inspirational story backing the beginning of our group but we don’t. We started out as a facebook page. It helped us connect and find people who shared a love for anime. Back then we didn’t really think that there would be a lot of anime fans out there, especially in Nagaland, but we were wrong. We got to meet many new faces through the group and created some lasting friendships. How many people are part of your group? Right now, we have got seven members on …

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The Journey Of The Reigning Miss Nagaland 2018 – Mewetshou Dianu

Published by Arepla Jamir

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Indeed! Your dream is what makes you different. It defines and shapes you. Many a time, we fall short in appreciating and noticing our dreams because we think they don’t hold a purpose for us in the long run but today we have our very own Mewe Dianu, the reigning Miss Nagaland, who inspires us to dream and do everything in our power to achieve it. We all have a young kid inside of us constantly reminding us of our bonkers wishes and dreams we made when we were just 6 years of age. Building a rocket, to be an astronaut, to be crowned Miss Nagaland; our dreams as kids were unlimited and without boundaries. We are excited beyond measure to have Miss Mewe Dianu remind us of our childish ambitions. We had a chat with Mewetshou Dianu, Miss Nagaland (2018) to talk about her experience with the beauty pageant, winning the title and more. Hello Mewe! So happy …

rootsandleisure_Jamie_Shikhu

Meet 23-Year-Old DJ Inavito From Nagaland aka ‘Jamie Shikhu’

Published by Arepla Jamir

As the saying goes by George Herbert, “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Indeed! Today we have Inavito Achumi Shikhu, better known as, Jamie Shikhu, a young Music Producer & Disc Jockey from Nagaland, who is truly a testimony to the above statement!  Roots & Leisure had a chat with the 23-year-old DJ & music producer, Inavito Achumi Shikhu, from Nagaland  The young DJ started making music at the young age of 14. The journey began when he was presented with an iPad on his birthday on which he downloaded GarageBand (Apple’s Music Application). Like many already accomplished names in this business, this promising music icon-to-be had his humble beginnings. He started making Electro House music and the first thing he thought was that the music he was making ‘didn’t sound too bad at all’. Next thing, he downloaded FL Studio mobile version to make sure he …

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In Conversation With The Lovely Sisters Behind ‘KAPRAA’ – Nagaland’s Favorite Fashion Destination

Published by Arepla Jamir

Kapraa, a startup run by three inspiring sisters, is one-of-a-kind store. Besides selling its own designs, the store also gives other creative designers a space to sell and showcase their pieces. It’s a one-stop shop if you’re looking for fashion and accessories – all ‘Made in Nagaland’! Today, we’re introducing you to the faces behind Kapraa – Diana, Ayetoli and Elona. We had fun chatting with them about Kapraa – scroll down to read the full conversation. We had a chat with the lovely sisters of “KAPRAA” – a clothing store based in Kohima, Nagaland to know more about their ventures and more. We are very excited and happy to have you here. To start with everything, it would be great if you can give us a little introduction. Kapraa is a small start up, it’s whole purpose is to encourage local entrepreneurs. It all started with the idea of diving into the world of fashionable yet affordable clothing. So while putting together the concept of KAPRAA, we thought why not be an umbrella brand …