Tharadol Thongruang, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Government of Thailand shake hands with Press Secretary to Nagaland Chief Minister and President, of Rattle and Hum Music Society of Nagaland, Abu Metha at Dimapur during a press conference at Dimapur today. Seen in the background are Officials of RHMS.
Akangchila Longchar
Dimapur | July 8
After much rocking out at the Convention Centre, Centara Grand in Bangkok Thailand, on June 21 to commemorate World Music Day, The Rattle & Hum Music Society today announced that the very purpose of The Handshake Concert is beginning to come true. Stating this at a press conference held at Dimapur, officials of the RHMS met with media personnel to share what they termed a ‘positive outcome’ of this year’s The Handshake Concert. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Thailand and the Rattle and Hum Society of Nagaland.
Tharadol Thongruang, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Government of Thailand who was also present at the meet informed that he had an interaction with the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio who expressed immense appreciation to the Ministry of Thailand. The representative from the Thailand Government also stated that when Nagaland raised one million for Thailand flood victims through the Solidarity Concert, Thai people appreciated the gesture very much. The gesture came from people that Thailand was not aware of, and this brought much awareness. Now with the Handshake Concert, Thai people are beginning to know Nagaland and Nagas and are much intrigued, said Tharadol.
“People earlier did not know where Nagaland was, I even after working in New Delhi for seven years did not know where Nagaland was. Now people in Thailand are getting to know Nagaland,” he said. Tharadol also informed that after what Nagas have done for people of Thailand, it is time to give back to Nagaland. He informed that a part of the profit raised from the Handshake Concert will be handed over to RHMS to be used to build a Corpus Fund of Thailand-Nagaland, and which will be soon initiated.
“Right now we are making music to be the link to connect people. But I believe music should be the link for tourism, trade etc in Nagaland. If tourism can follow through music it will be good” he said. Tharadol also stated that an event like The Handshake Concert was not held ‘just for fun’ and to stop relations between Nagaland and Thailand at the concert, but ‘Let the music linger… let it be the middleman.” With many appearance already at the annual Hornbill Festival, Tharadol said that there will be much more participation from Thailand.
Addressing the meet, Press Secretary to Nagaland Chief Minister, and President, of Rattle and Hum Music Society of Nagaland, Abu Metha also stated appreciation to the Government of Thailand, Government of India, State Government for supporting the Handshake Concert. He explained that the fifth edition was held very successfully with all seats sold out and the people responding very enthusiastically to the performance by the Naga artistes. He also said that the Corpus Fund was the start for greater bilateral ties between Nagaland and Thailand.
