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rootsandlesisure_inla

Inla, The Owner of Inla’s Genesis, Talks About How She Quit Her Corporate Job to Launch Her Jewelry Business

Published by Neha Fernandez

Inla had been working in the corporate sector for 10 years but always knew that her passion was jewelry-making. In 2015, she took the bold step of quitting her well paid job to start her own jewelry venture, Inla Genesis. She hasn’t looked back since! A passionate business woman and artist from Kohima, she creates customised jewelry pieces. No two customers of hers have the same piece and that’s what makes her venture special. We chatted with the inspiring woman about her work and more. Hi! Tell us something about yourself? I’m known as Inla and I am an artist. I grew up in Kohima and now I shuttle between Delhi and Kohima. I have a jewelry venture called Inla Genesis. Tell us about your venture Inlas Genesis. What’s special about it?  I started Inla’s Genesis mid-2015. All my jewellery pieces are single pieces, so each client owns something unique which no one else will possess. I customise earrings, rings, cufflinks, coat lapel and pins with pictures of loved ones or initials, as per the …

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Nzan Kikon, A Counselling Psychologist and Writer, Talks About His Book ‘The Starry Night’

Published by Neha Fernandez

A dreamer, who believes in making the world a better place, Nzan Kikon has much to offer through his work. When he isn’t busy reading, you can find him pursuing his profession as a counselling psychologist. We chatted with him as he launches his book, ‘The Starry Night’, a book based on family drama with a psychological theme on living with mental illness, family bond, forgiveness, second chance.  Nzan Kikon Tell us a little bit about who you are, where are you from, and what you have been up to? Hi, my name is Nzan Kikon, and I’m 31 years old, residing in Kohima, Nagaland. I am a dreamer who believes in making the world a better place, for those who are here today, and those who will be replacing us. I am also a Science enthusiast, where I believe that embracement of Science will propel us to a time where we can only dream of now. I am also an avid book lover, with my ultimate goal to build my own library at some …

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Assamese Fish Recipe | Masor Jhul with Kala Jeera (Nigella Seeds)

Published by Neha Fernandez

If you are tired of cooking fish the same way, and with that familiar taste, then we have just the right recipe for you. Our friend Antara Boruah – a recipe developer from Assam, is going to make a pretty interesting fish dish using Nigella Seeds (kalonji or kala jeera). A flavorsome dish that has “a beautiful earthy flavor, a soothing breeze of fresh air with bold and beautiful spices.” – as described by the master herself. Let’s start cooking! INGREDIENTS: Fish 350 gms 3tbsp Nigella Seeds (kalonji or kala jeera)  Black pepper 1/2 tbsp Garlic 1 regular bulb whole Green Chillies 4 slit Salt to taste Lemon juice 2 tbsp Mustard oil. Enough to shallow fry the fish and an additional 2 tbsp. Turmeric 1 tbsp Mint leaves for garnish Steps to cook: Marinate the fish with salt and turmeric. Make a smooth paste of Nigella seeds, garlic and black pepper. Make sure there are no coarse grains in the paste. Shallow fry the fish in mustard oil till half done. Add 2 tbsp oil to …

Jonathan Marques, An Analyst and Traveller, Shares His Travel Tales From Cambodia

Published by Neha Fernandez

For Jonathan Marque, true joy resides in exploring new places, meeting new people, and embracing new views. An analyst by profession, he recently took a sabbatical to travel around the world. Taking on the road with his friend, he set out to explore Thailand and Cambodia this year.  He’s already covered Japan, Vietnam, and South Africa and hopes to travel to Northeast India and South American soon. We chatted with him to know his take on travel and more.  Hey Jonathan! Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you’ve been up to. I’m Jonathan Marques, 33 and currently based out of Mumbai and Goa. I have been working as an analyst in the Energy and Oil & Gas sectors for about a decade, but am currently on a sabbatical since a few months to explore new avenues, specifically sustainable living and Permaculture design. What initially sparked your journey? I love the thrill, excitement and experience of a new place, its food, people, culture and natural beauty. Every trip has only helped …

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DJ Aloza (formerly known as ‘Zaza’) is Making Waves in Nagaland as the Hottest Female DJ in Town

Published by Kumti

DJ Aloza (formerly known as Zaza) was always into music, especially EDM and rap. This love translated into Deejaying, which she picked up back in 2013. Inspired by one of the first DJs from Nagaland – DJ Ina, Aloza finally picked this up after experimenting with various genres of music. She is now signed under the record label, InfinityInc from Nagaland. We chat with her to get an update on her music and more. R&L: Hi Aloza, nice to meet you again! Please introduce yourself to our new readers. DJ Aloza: Hi, I’m Aloza (I used to go by the name Zaza). I am from Kohima but currently live in Dimapur. I did my studies at Mount Hermon School, Kohima, and graduated from Patkai Christian College. I am a full-time DJ now. R&L: Tell us about your current work as a DJ. And what inspired you to become a DJ? DJ Aloza: My genre is Bass House and Hip Hop. I also sing and rap. I’m a big fan of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and …

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#FACES | Photographer Captures The Love and Affection Between Siblings

Published by Neha Fernandez

On one of his photo-walks, photographer John Kapfo spotted a moment of pure love between siblings and couldn’t help but capture it in his camera. He says, “Your siblings are your first friends, and sometimes, your first enemies too! You fight, argue, play, and share an unmatched relationship with them. The affection and love showed between siblings, no matter what the age or gender, can truly be an inspiration. As seen here, a simple gesture can truly evoke a thousand emotions, a wordless story no doubt.” Picture clicked by John Kapfo. Follow him on Instagram for more.

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“I Started out Taking Photos and Videos of My Musician Friends on my Mobile Phone” – Photographer Asemyouba Jamir from Nagaland

Published by Neha Fernandez

Asemyouba Jamir’s love for photography began with taking pictures and making videos of his artist friends with a phone camera. Photography became a way for him to communicate, express, and understand the world. Currently pursuing a master’s in Mass Communication, he juggles with photography on the side as a hobby to keep honing his skills. Besides that, he’s also trying his hands at videography. Living in the Northeast, he captures the beautiful landscape, the people, and nature that are close to his heart.We spoke to him about his future plans, how he learned photography without any professional training, and more. An in-depth chat with Asemyouba Jamir to know more about his work and how it all began. Hello Asemyouba, please tell us a bit about yourself! Hi! I’m Asemyouba Jamir. I’m originally from Kohima, Nagaland but living in Shillong right now, where I’m pursuing my master’s degree in Mass Communication, NEHU (Shillong). Introduce your work to us. What got you started? Since childhood, I was always interested in photography and videography. But since there was …

#FACES | Introducing Sustainable Library to The School Children of Manipur With Nikita Barton

Published by Neha Fernandez

“I’m Nikita Barton, an educator, working with NGOs and Social Groups to promote education in rural villages. For this particular project, I travelled to Puichi in Manipur, to set up a ‘sustainable library’, with books donated by various well-wishers. While it was my job to train the local teachers to encourage students to read, and run the up-keep of the library, I couldn’t help myself sitting down with the school children themselves, and introduce them to a book or two. Their eagerness to learn something new is definitely contagious. Not to mention, the joy on their faces when they find something interesting the book and ask you questions about it. It is truly an enchanting and life-changing experience to see children so young, begin their journey as book lovers.”

Menule Chirhah, Founder of Mini Explorer, Is Helping People Find The Best Places To Eat In Kohima

Published by Neha Fernandez

Meet Menule Chirhah, an avid and adventurous gastronome. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in English Literature, she’s transformed her love for food into Mini Explorer, where she’s helping people discover restaurants and new dishes in Kohima. She’s always been a foodie and has a knack for finding the perfect spot for different types of cuisines. Inspired by this, she took it upon herself to discover, review, and share her discoveries with people.  Greetings Menule Chirhah! Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Menule Chirhah, and I’d like to call myself a food enthusiast. I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in English Literature but when I’m not studying, I like to live life vigorously. I also like exploring, be it food, places, or new experiences. I believe life has a lot to offer and I’m excited about what’s waiting on the other side. What is your key inspirations behind Mini Explorer? As a foodie, I loved visiting new restaurants and trying out new items on the menu. Since my friends know this fact about me, …

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In Conversation With The Owners of The Newly-Launched Mughlai Kitchen in Dimapur

Published by Kumti

Looking at the lack of Indian cuisine restaurants in Dimapur, three childhood friends decided to open up their own Mughlai restaurant. Phanchamo Lotha, Abovi Achumi and Samuel Murry had always dreamt of working together on a business or a project. This dream materialized with the opening of this restaurant where the three of them came together to provide Mughalai delicacies to people at affordable prices.  We chatted with them to know about the restaurant. Don’t forget to drop by if you’re in or around Dimapur! Hello! It’s lovely to have you here. Please tell us about you and your team.  Hello, we are Phanchamo Lotha, Abovi Achumi & Samuel Murry. Abovi and I are in to business while our other partner, Samuel is a Govt. employee. As kids, we always had dreams of doing something together. After we finished our studies, we got the idea to open a comfort food restaurant. Our Chef is Sanjeev Dutta from NJP with experience in Mughlai cuisine. Tell us the motivation behind opening this restaurant! We opened this restaurant …