Indian Army’s Cultural Campaign Empowers Women in Northeast

KOHIMA: The Indian Army has quietly sparked a movement of empowerment through looms, beads, and age-old wisdom. In the hills and valleys of Manipur and Nagaland, where shawls signify status and beads embody ancestral spirits, women reclaim their heritage as a symbol of pride and as a source of livelihood and economic resilience.

According to an official release, this movement took root organically. During their deployment in remote villages, Army personnel were often felicitated by local women with handwoven shawls, bead jewellery, and herbal cosmetic items. These gestures unveiled a rich cultural heritage, but the know-how remained known to very few people.

Recognising the untapped potential, the Army initiated a cultural empowerment campaign under Operation Sadbhavana.

According to the release, it partnered with Aseem Foundation, a Pune-based NGO known for its work in remote and conflict-prone areas. In Nagaland’s Zakhama village, the Indian Army supported the establishment of a textile unit that drew on the traditions of tribes like the Ao, Angami, and Chakhesang.

The iconic Tsungkotepsu shawl, once reserved for warriors, is now being woven by local women using cotton, silk, polyester, and acrylic yarns on traditional looms. The unit not only trains women in structured weaving techniques but also fosters emotional ties between the Army and tribal communities.  (ANI)

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