Vishü Rita Krocha
Dimapur | June 19
Chonbemo Patton had never imagined that the carpentry lessons he learnt as a school-going-boy would later define his life, but it was exactly these defining moments that went on to carve a fulfilling career for him. “Many of us would stay back after class twice a week and learn woodwork from the school Carpentry Instructor. These free lessons went on for about half an hour or sometimes stretched for an hour,” he puts across while fondly recalling his days at Wozhuro Middle School where he studied up to Class 8.
He later enrolled himself in an open school and completed his 12th standard even while continuing with his passion for woodwork in several places such as Tseminyu, Wokha, Kohima and Dimapur. A traditional wooden stool is Chonbemo’s first work, which still remains very dear to him. He was only a teenager when he started working independently and with much fervor. “My father was a carpenter at the Assam Rifles and that gave me access to his tools, enabling me to pursue it with more enthusiasm,” he recalls.
Chonbemo makes special mention of his Instructor way back in Middle School, from whom he learned everything that was essential for the profession he now lives on. “I still remember how he taught us and each time I work on a piece of furniture, I recall the pencil markings he demonstrated or the specifications he emphasized on.”
Carpentry may be his first love but he also went on to learn stonework solely by watching how the non-locals worked and slowly became efficient himself. “I worked in these fields even as a student and recollect being paid Rs. 5 or Rs. 8. I would be very happy with the money and would buy potatoes with it as I lived away from home,” he shares.
He has come a long way pursuing these two passions and making positive impact in the lives of others. Come windy or rainy season, only rarely does he get to enjoy a quiet evening at home. “Too many phone calls during these seasons- ‘my tin roof has been blown off’, ‘there is a leakage in my roof, and we cannot sleep’, ‘water is coming through from our chimney’ etc. with requests to fix them and so, I go and help them regardless of what time of the day/night it is,” he adds.
“On a very rainy day, I went to 4 houses,” he says further. But he firmly believes that through all these he is able to reach out and help those in need. “I don’t expect to be paid for these but sometimes they insist on it for the repairs, other times it’s a sincere ‘Thank You’. I help others, they also help me.”
He strongly feels “the need for our people to learn, know and build our capacities” especially in the construction sector that has immense scope for employment.
Chonbemo also works as a Chowkidar at the Art & Culture Department. “This is a small job but God has given me the opportunity to open the gates first and be the person to see that it’s safely locked at the end of the day," he says.
*Year of Construction Workers (YOCW) is a joint program of the Government of Nagaland in partnership with YouthNet, Zynorique and the Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.