13 June,2011 08:45 AM IST | | Yoshita Sengupta
Inspired by the iconic College Street coffee houses in Kolkata and after half a century of insurgency in Nagaland, Dream Caf ufffd on NH39 has turned into a hub of RTI activism, serving espresso, sandwiches, music and ideas of self sufficiency
Dream Cafe, a modest 30-seater eatery with tabletops made out of floor tiles tells the inspiring story of how food can bring about social change. Located on National Highway 39 in Kohima, it is the seat of a revolution; not the violent variety, though, but one inspired by hope, ideas and espresso coffee.
The arterial highway that begins in Numaligarh, Assam and winds through the heart of Kohima and Imphal, ending at the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur is probably one motorable stretch that has witnessed more violent protests than any other highway in the world.
After 50 years of bloodshed that ravaged the region, the Central government and rebel outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland successfully negotiated a cease-fire agreement in 1997, throwing the highway open to travellers and trekkers.
Six years later, on the highway came up Dream Caf ufffd, a tiny eatery known for its sandwiches and coffee, and watched as it gradually began vending ideas of employment, education, self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship.
"Ten years ago, we had insurgency problems. Art, music and theatre couldn't thrive in the state. Anyone could be shot. The youth had no life left to enjoy.. shops would shut at 4 pm," remembers 40 year-old Theja Meru, Dream Caf ufffd owner.
Inspired by the iconic coffee houses of Kolkata, the caf ufffd turned into a space that young Nagas could call their own. A bunch of regulars here included members of not-for-profit organisation Youth Net. Registered in February 2006, Youth Net was formed by Hekani Jakhalu, a Supreme Court lawyer from Harvard University, who had trained with Amnesty International and the United Nations. Hekani ditched a successful law career to return to her home state and launch a social initiative.
Youth Net and Dream Caf ufffd had a common aim: to empower Nagaland's youth. "We concentrate on two areas ufffd employment generation and RTI activism ufffd to empower youngsters. The idea is to give them a voice," Hekani says. Youth Net decided to use the Right To Information tool as a weapon of change. Members held awareness workshops in 2006 and 2007, inspiring locals to file RTI queries. "We verify the information provided by the authorities by conducting our own social auditing. In case of discrepancies, we organise a public hearing and invite government officials for it," says Jakhalu. The idea, she says, is not to put people behind bars and fight with the government but to raise awareness among the masses.
And Dream Caf ufffd is where the idea was conceived. "When Theja opened the Caf ufffd, he was clear about using it as a place for people to discuss issues that affected them. Several coffee shops have opened after it but Dream Caf ufffd is irreplaceable," Jakhalu says.
An example of Youth Net's success was seen when last year, the Nagaland Board of school education included a chapter on the RTI Act and Youth Net in the class 10 curriculum.u00a0 At the Caf ufffd, music flows just as freely as revolutionary thought. Its walls hold up a portraits of rock legends, its tables serve up pizzas and Chinese snacks and the eatery plays host to local lads who jam here on evenings. It's these impromptu sessions that inspired Meru to start the Rattle & Hum Music Society. "Music and art is our focus. When we were teenagers, we had great love for music but no access to equipment, hardly any guidance and no opportunity. I want the new generation to have it all," says the self-taught musician and former member of Chennai-based band Blood and Fire.
Quick facts
When, how
Closest airport: Dimapur
Closest railway station: Dimapur on the Guwahati-Dibrugarh route has direct rail connections to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Dimapur is 74 kilometres away from Kohima. The drive from Dimapur to Kohima takes two hours.
Best time to visit: October to December and February to May.
Also visit
The Kohima war cemetery which is across the road from the caf ufffd is dedicated to the 10,000 Allied soldiers who lost their lives during the battle against the Japanese between April 4 and June 22, 1944 (World War II).
The cemetery lies on Garrison Hill on a site that was once the tennis court of the Deputy Commissioner Charles Pawsey. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains the cemetery that is beautifully laid out with lush green grass and roses. The most famous epitaph known as the Kohima Epitaph is carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery. It reads: 'When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our today.'
Where you can catch the music outside Nagaland
Theja Meru's Rattle & Hum Music Society (RHMS) has organised the fourth edition of The Handshake Concert 2011 in Bengaluru on June 21 (on the occasion of World Music Day). Grammy-winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, the chief patron of RHMS will perform in the Concert along with bands such as Soulmate, Melodrama (winner of NSACS Rock Reach 2010), Divine Connection (winner of MTV Desi Beats 2011). The concert will be held in collaboration with Nagaland University, Tourism Nagaland and Rolling Stone Magazine.
At: Chowdiah Hall, Bengaluru
On: June 21, 6 pm.
Call: 09436000044
Getting there: Dream Caf ufffd, Ser's Bazaar, TCP Gate, Kohima. Diagonally opposite the Kohima War Cemetery.
