The number slowly increased to seven children. I wondered how come so many don’t have parents. Then I felt very happy to be with them. There were times when rice was not sufficient for us and there was no money,” says Founder Kohima Orphanage, Zaputuo Angami.
Thirty seven years later, the road still remains as difficult. Yet 85 year-old- Zaputuo Angami has never thought twice about her journey.
In insurgency torn Nagaland, the Kohima Orphanage founded by Zaputuo still stands as a symbol of love and strength for children without a home, without parents.
At present the 80 children from different parts of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar are all proud members of Kohima Orphanage.
Also with Zaputuo is her daughter Nebunuo, silently supporting her mother in the best of times and the worst of times.
Zaputuo’s home runs on help that comes in bits and parts from the state government, well-wishers, the church and the Assam Rifles.
The orphanage was first established in a government land near Kohima Science College. And in that life sometimes for Zaputuo and her children, comes the time of presents and cakes and songs, a time that all the little ones look forward to for simple joys.
Beyond all this, the truth remains that this ‘home’ survives on meals and clothes donated by people. But unperturbed, the two brave hearts Zaputuo and Nebunuo continue on with the calling of their life day after day.