Aton LM
In the year 2001, two young students, Yan Murry and Jeremy Taylor, envisioning the strong presence of Internet worldwide and its enormous potential to growth & development and the absence of websites exclusively for Nagas, triggered off an evolution of a website “Kuknalim.com” with a vision to make a Home for the Nagas on the Net. They launched the website dedicated solely to that purpose. The site, “www.kuknalim.com“ since then has grown, clocking 2.5 million hits per month. By now it has over 1,800 registered members and over 8,000 e-mail subscribers.
Besides hosting an interactive chat room, it also features a diversified forum wherein users can discuss or debate on current affairs - social, political or spiritual, or give updates on the latest news and information, or just do fun stuff. The site also feature a section dedicated to artists, musicians, photographers, poets, stamp collectors etc. The Poetry Club now has a collection of over 500 poems all authored by talented Nagas. The students’ discussion forum provides imperative information to various students about courses, careers, share pros and cons of taking up certain subjects. The Games Forum section encourages users to test their creativity and also allows them to enrich their vocabulary with trivias and word games. The photo gallery has an amalgamation of pictures taken by various Naga photographers from various locations. The Philately Club has been acting as an important source of information for stamp collectors and also is the only online Philately club in the North East.
The vision of Kuknalim.com, whilst bringing all Nagas scattered across the globe closer, also aspire to play a critical role in providing vital information and assistance to the public thus helping in achieving to bring an all round development to the region. Despite the presence of a number of other Naga websites, Jeremy and Yan foresee the requirement for a single site catering to all needs. Hence, their intention to make kuknalim.com a helpful site not only for students, but also for businessmen, housewives and generally for all age groups. Plans are afoot to upgrade the site which will then feature a more advanced discussion forum, better interactive chat room, gaming area, online shopping and specially, a separate business section which they expect will serve as a pivotal platform to and for private entrepreneurs and businessmen to market more effectively and more efficiently. The upgraded version is scheduled to be launched soon.
Also, aside from bringing Nagas on the Net together and providing information, it promotes the rich culture & traditions of the Nagas and the enormous tourism potential that the region has to offer. Kuknalim.com is also one of the media sponsors of Miss Nagaland and is currently promoting a North East rock band, Basement Blues, who are scheduled to perform for IIT at their annual festival, “Mood Indigo” in Mumbai.
In line with their vision of bringing Nagas closer, Kuknalim.com is hosting their first re-union gathering on the 3rd of December 2005 in New Delhi with the belief that the event, whilst providing users and members with a chance to meet and mingle, also believe that it will act as the first link for establishing a personal point of contact. Kuknalim.com hopes to bring together each year the new generation of Nagas who are tech savvy and updated with the latest technologies by hosting such events in all major cities and Nagaland annually.
The event in New Delhi will be kick started by performances by the band, Basement Blues, and will be followed by a series of solo performances by other Naga bands.
The band, Basement Blues was formed in 2001 and consists of Dhruv, Robin, Rajiv and Dainy The band members are all from Assam and Nagaland They have come a long way in the Indian rock cradle by performances on well known stages across India enthralling the audience with their unique music and stage performances, the latest being on the occasion of the Dalai Lama’s birthday at the Tibetan institute of performing arts in MacCleod Ganj, Dharamsala.
Other attractions of the night include, apart from the rock show also include an elaborate dinner of a delectable menu of an assortment of various cuisines, lucky draws, fun games and lots of music and dancing.
The organizers are confident that the event will be a show stopper. This event in New Delhi will hallmark the beginning of Kuknalim.com’s voyage in bringing Nagas on the web closer.
In order to make kuknalim.com a success, donations, sponsors and contributions are invited. Kuknalim.com invites readers to be a part of this event and to show their solidarity for the drive for all-round development of Nagas throughout the world. Funds are to be utilized for events such as these and towards development activities in the future and in making kuknalim.com a Home for Nagas on the Net.
For further information, visit http://reunion.kuknalim.com.
