Meet the 9-year old basket weaver from Nagaland

June 2, 2021 92 Views No Comment

Veroli Zhimo
Dimapur | June 2

Like any 9-year old, Nuve Tetseo has a hobby.

But it is not the typical leisure activity, like a video game, sports or collecting items. Nuve’s hobby is weaving baskets, a craft he picked up from his aunts.

In November last year, the class 5 student at Baptist High Senior Secondary School (BHSSS), Kohima began keenly observing his aunts who are skilled basket weavers. Seeing his interest in the craft, his aunts began to teach him. Not long after that, Nuve began to weave entire baskets without any assistance. Since then, the little weaver has crafted over 40 baskets—several of them larger than himself.

“My hobby is making baskets and reading storybooks,” Nuve told The Morung Express, adding that he spends most of his time either attending online classes or weaving baskets. “It’s fun and it makes me happy,” he added.

Nuve shared that his younger sister, five-year old Lhusalu, helps put in the final touches on some of the baskets. “She can make two types of pretty flowers which are used to decorate the baskets,” he said. His elder sister Thujovelu also helps out by sorting out his tools and materials and running small errands for him.

According to Nuve’s father Vezoto Tetseo, the baskets were initially sold among family members and friends. However, just before the state-wide lockdown was announced, “A pastor from the local church who came to visit, was so impressed with the baskets that he took several photographs and shared them on the church WhatsApp group,” Tetseo narrated. Very soon, church members and even unknown people began contacting him enquiring about the baskets.

Tetseo explained that the family has decided to use the income from Nuve’s venture towards education. As of now, the family has earned a substantial amount—all of which will be used to buy a full computer set for Nuve and his sisters. Nuve’s baskets are sold in prices ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 a piece, depending on the size.

“We have to constantly remind him to take rest. But with the lockdown in place now and no friends to play with, he tells us that he is enjoying the activity,” Tetseo said, while Nuve proudly declared “I can make one whole basket in one day.”

Besides basket weaving, the precocious nine-year old also likes to read storybooks, playing with his friends and dreams of becoming an army officer in the future.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/meet-the-9-year-old-basket-weaver-from-nagaland