Nagaland

Ursula Graham Bower joined a troop of 150 Nagas in 1942, and became a scout and combat commander for the British, during the Japanese invasion of India. Catriona Child narrates what it was like for her mother to lead these exploits as a woman and as an 'outsider'.

Founded by Nengneithem Hengna, Runway Nagaland manufactures and supplies indigenous tribal jewellery from Nagaland to the rest of India.

Nuklu Phom is an environmentalist from Nagaland's Longleng district who runs Lemsachenlok, an organisation aimed at increasing the population of the Amur falcon, planting thousands of trees, preventing poaching, and executing the concept of community-owned forests.

Khrolhiweu Tsuhah, project associate at North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA), is anchoring a multi-stakeholder spring shed management project in various districts of Nagaland to revive springs, the only water source in the mountainous region

The late IAS officer, AM Gokhale, introduced the concept of Village Development Board (VDB), which transformed rural governance not just in the State, but the rest of India. His loss due to the coronavirus was felt personally by the people and communities of Nagaland.

Ruovilhoukho Chuzho from Nagaland learned carpentry and bamboo crafts to establish three enterprises of his own - The Naga’s Feather, Collection Store, and Chop Sticks. He was also named the ‘Promising Artisan of The Year’ by the NBDA in 2017

It is easy to declare some place as 'disturbed', or to pretend that drugs and disease happen only to others. Real heroes stand up and make a difference. These heroes from Nagaland did that - and should be famous across India.

Besides training over 500 farmers in Nagaland, his startup has gone on to generate approximately 20,00,000 Shiitake dowel spawns and 25,000 kg of Oyster mushroom spawns.

“Despite being an ‘outsider’, they made me feel at home. That’s what has inspired me to go above and beyond the call of duty,” says Dr. Pritpal Kaur Batra,” a dentist-turned IPS officer.

From battling the stigma against HIV to building bridges, this former pastor has done it all for his remote district.