Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has called upon architects to take the lead in promoting architecture that is not only aesthetically appealing but also safe, sustainable, and rooted in local identity.
He underscored the construction sector’s vital role as a driver of employment and economic growth, urging professionals to innovate without compromising safety.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the silver jubilee celebration of the Association of Nagaland Architects (ANA) at Chümoukedima on Saturday, Rio said the 25-year journey of the organisation reflected “vision, perseverance, and dedication” in shaping the state’s urban and rural landscapes.
The event, themed “Celebrating Community, Nurturing Creativity,” featured an exhibition of home and décor materials, inaugurated by the Chief Minister.
Rio commended ANA’s early efforts in advocating for development controls and building bye-laws, calling them “a foundational step toward organised, safe, and sustainable urban growth.”
From a modest beginning, the association has grown into a vibrant body of over 120 architects contributing to policymaking, public service, private practice, and entrepreneurship, he noted.
“Architects are not just designers of structures—they are custodians of our heritage, interpreters of our culture, and visionaries of our future,” Rio said, urging the community to continue blending traditional Naga ethos with modern design and technology.
Acknowledging the state’s seismic vulnerability, he reminded the gathering that Nagaland lies in Earthquake Zone 5, which “is not just a statistic but a reality that governs our lives.”
He called for strict adherence to safety standards and the adoption of disaster-resilient construction practices.
Highlighting the construction industry as Nagaland’s largest employment generator, Rio appealed to ANA and its members to empower youth, masons, engineers, and artisans with emerging technologies and sustainable techniques.
“By empowering our local workforce, you are not just building structures—you are building futures and strengthening the state’s economy,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged architects to be “innovators who balance safety with aspiration, mentors who uplift communities, and visionaries who build a resilient and beautiful Nagaland.”
Council of Architecture (India) member Dr. Gauri Nitin Shiurkar, who also addressed the event, described Nagaland as “a living laboratory of sustainable and cultural architecture,” encouraging the integration of traditional wisdom with modern design innovation.
The celebration also paid homage to the late C. Yantsushan Murry, Nagaland’s first architect, and other pioneers whose contributions laid the foundation for the profession in the state.
