Monalisa Changkija
It was a gathering of a different kind ~ a first in India ~ when the Governor of Telangana, His Excellency Jishnu Dev Varma, who hails from the Northeastern State of Tripura, organized the Telangana-North East Connect, a Techno-Cultural Festival, at Hyderabad. The Festival was held in two phases, with Phase - I commencing on November 20 and ending on November 22, 2025. Phase – II was held from November 25 to November 27, 2025. Phase – I consisted of Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Literature, Women Empowerment, Film Festival and Sports. Phase – II consisted of Health Care Conclave, Pharma and Life Sciences and IT & ITES.
The very nomenclature of the Festival, Telangana-North East Connect, obviously indicates that Telangana seeks to forge close bonds with the Northeast and clearly sees the advantage of selling Telangana to the Northeast. These objectives could benefit and serve the two regions well. In a message, A Revanth Reddy, Telangana’s Chief Minister says: “The North Eastern Region of India, with its unmatched splendor, natural beauty, amazing resources and extraordinary people, culture, arts, diversity, is a jewel of India. Telangana feels a special connect with the North Eastern States and we celebrate and cherish our shared heritage and diversities.” With such an unpretentious but powerful message, the Chief Minister couldn’t have wooed the Northeast in a more eloquently subtle manner. And, those of us from the Northeast, who attended the TG-NE Connect Festival, had the pleasure, the honour and the privilege to accept Telangana’s hospitality, exchanging views on shared existential issues and found commonalities despites our numerous diversities through the subjects dealt with in Phase – I of the Festival.
All eight Northeastern States were represented in one or the other category of Phase I of the Festival and indubitably in the Phase – II also. From Nagaland, we had representation in the Literature (Monalisa Changkija), Women Empowerment (Pritpal Kaur (IPS), SP, Phek and Chenithung Humstoe) and Naga Designer Vilhousa Movi in Performing Arts (Theatre and Music). Under the Literature category, one panel discussion was also held on Media. I had the privilege of speaking at a panel on “To See a Heaven in a Wild Flower: Poetry and Perspective” and at the penal on “The Media is the Medium”. Panelists of the Literature category opined that too much was packed in too little time but it’s a complaint rife in all literary festivals and events after all writers, poets and authors deal with words rooted in experience, observations and opinions ergo tend to speak a lot and sometimes get overly academic. This is not a bad thing by itself because it is always highly illuminating and educative to learn from fellow writers’ perspectives.
There were musical performances, dances, films and art and cultural exhibitions. It was a pity that Nagaland did not see any representation in these categories because we have enormous talents in these fields ~ definitely a missed opportunity because far away from the Northeast, people actually want to get to know us and learn about us. But probably all roads for our talents led to the Hornbill Festival and the dates simply didn’t work out. This underscores that when hands are stretched out to us to forge bonds, reciprocation is needed after computing priorities and by getting out of our heads.
The TG-NE Connect Festival was probably the first time a Governor of an India State actually conceptualized, initiated and organized an event of this magnitude and clearly his Government was totally supportive every which way. It was also apparent that Hyderabad has all required infrastructure to host around 600 invitees from the Northeast. The most convenient was the huge HITEX Complex, in which all categories of the Festival were held simultaneously and invitees could attend any event without having to go to other venues. Indubitably, the Government of Telangana has envisaged the State to play a very prominent role in all aspects of culture, literature, visual and performing arts, sports and any national and international event in all fields. This is an investment, which will bring huge returns to the Government and people of Telangana and not only in monetary terms. Telangana’s clearly sees Hyderabad as a hub for numerous activities and events and is prepared to hosts them. It is also notable that the HITEX Complex is extremely well constructed with all requirements for festivals, events and activities well in place. Such a venue in any Northeastern State can only be an aspiration, a dream, a prayer and a hope. One gets the sense that Hyderabad’s HITEX Complex is more about unambiguous vision, political will than availability of funds.
Hyderabad also has first rate medical facilities, educational institutions, hospitality sector and employment opportunities both in the public and private sectors ~ all the requirements the Northeast lack and is searching for. So it makes good sense for the Telangana to bring the Northeast to the State and see for ourselves what it has to offer. Already a large number of Northeasterners have been working, studying and living in Hyderabad and possibly numerous parts of Telangana ~ I am informed that some even own small and medium businesses. To me, the TG-NE Connect Festival was not only a hard sell of Telangana but also an opening of the door and a heartfelt welcome to the State. And, what better way, as the Governor said during his inaugural speech, than to begin with the opening of minds and exchange of ideas.
In terms of wealth, no Northeastern State can hold a candle to Telangana; probably even all Northeastern States put together though the State of Telangana is comparatively a new one. So, very few Northeastern State would be able to host a TG-NE Connect kind of Festival except perhaps Assam. Even so, any Northeastern State could host such an event by inviting one or two neighbouring States because while we are neighbours, we remain strangers in so many ways despite our geographical proximity, historical ties and cultural commonalities. A very simple truism is: business becomes lucrative when minds and hearts are opened and shared, similarities celebrated, trust earned and bonds forged. Ultimately, it is political will that wins the day, opens markets and earns the paisa. It is also the people’s keenness to open hearts and minds to welcome everyone and become friends and business partners.
It must be mentioned here that while the Telangana Governor visited every session of all categories on the first business day, he actually came to a literary session, sat down, spoke and shared his mind. Not surprising because Jishnu Dev Varma himself is a noted writer and aficionado of culture. It makes a huge difference to any State to have such a personality as Governor and it shows. Governorship, after all, demands so much more than politics and parroting Governments’ lines. With times a-changing, so much is expected of Governors because there is so much Governors can do to enhance their Governments’ performance and productivity so as to enrich the people’s lives.
(The Columnist is a Dimapur-based veteran journalist, poet and former Editor of Nagaland Page. Published in the November 30, 2025 issue of Northeast Now)
