"Culture and Society" with Mekhala Mama (Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu) | The Lungleng Show

Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu (PhD) is an indigenous feminist, poet, academic, educator.
She advocates for the revival of Indigenous Naga textiles and women's narratives through her popular Instagram avatar @mekhalamama. Over the past six years, she has revolutionized the way Naga textiles are perceived through her unique storytelling approach bringing out the cultural and personal narratives associated with mekhalas and other cloths. She is widely credited with influencing women in Nagaland, the North-East and beyond to wear mekhalas as fashionable garments that can be used as special and daily work wear. Her advocacy has inspired other initiatives promoting the wearing, research, design and sales of textiles, renewing interest in a neglected tradition. She campaigns for sustainable fashion practices and is known for promoting locally produced indigenous textiles & crafts as well as local businesses with a focus on those run by women entrepreneurs.
The impact of her textile and fashion activism has been recognised and featured in Roots & Leisure, Verve, Voice of Fashion, Indian Express, The Sunday Standard Magazine, Huffington Post, Times of India, National News UAE and most recently, Vogue India.
She writes creatively under the pen name T. Keditsu and has published two books of poetry, Sopfünuo and Wake as well as Ukepenuopfü, an illustrated children’s storybook. She has contributed to a number of anthologies, journals and books in her creative & academic capacities, such as Yaari: An Anthology on Friendship by Women and Queer Folx, YodaPress (2023), The Many That I Am: Writings from Nagaland, Zubaan (2019), the Journal of Big History, South Asia Review, FemAsia and The Yugen Quest Review and The Little Journal to name a few.
Two of her poems ‘Shame’& ‘Survival’ have been made into poetry films by TakeOne Films. Her poems have been translated into Marathi, Hindi and most notedly into Gujarati by emininet poet, Sitanshu Yashaschandra.
She is widely sought after as a public speaker and educator within her Naga community and in North East India.
With a PhD in Cultural Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, she has over 16 years of teaching experience and is currently an assistant professor in Kohima College, Kohima, Nagaland.

[@tiapongen4390]

When God was distributing beauty to women, her serial no was 1.

[@tesatete161]

Couldn't agree more. 💯

[@temjenimlilangu754]

Beauty with brain 😄

[@amekalivzhimomi8765]

I saw her once at a wedding and couldn't take my eyes off her 😊

[@keneisolozzz7686]

😅😅😅 true though.

[@kughakayeptho4201]

Dang❤

[@Ak-pu1yn]

As a woman myself I admire everything about her😍

[@Lilylily11122]

😊

[@huhstillexist7843]

Even lungleng started hugging the pillow once the conversation started I understand brother....

[@meda_marwein]

I met Dr Keditsu last year at a literary festival, she's a breath of fresh air. Her rootedness to her culture and her literary journey and anecdotes were a joy to witness and hear.

[@entertainmentmusic7452]

Dr.Theyiesinuo Keditsu, Angami is one of the legendary woman of our Naga Country. She is an extra ordinary beauty lady and a great educated woman. She is also a woman of Naga Freedom Fighter.

[@thetribe2101]

Country is India , nagaland is a state of indian union. That's a fact, stop living in dreams

[@anuragbiswas2214]

​@@thetribe2101 Absolutely

[@atola-e7t]

coming here after watching Sir Kekhrie's interview and I must say that the comments show the bias against women clearly. Though Dr. Theyi is famous I came face to face with her for the first time last year at a programme and I must say she is more beautiful in actual. I was speechless and could admired her only. Watching her interview, one can say that the topics covered and her deep intellect is equal to none among even the esteemed figures covered by this show. however scrolling through the comments one can see that everyone is more mesmerise by her beauty than her brain. when I met her I was thinking to myself how much blessed she is to have it all but today I can say that maybe having so much beauty can work against a person also. will it be double standard if Sir Kekhrie is a hunk will people be commenting about his leadership or his looks? or only for women to be taken seriously?

[@Nibu12-mch]

Amazing professionalism,,,,,,,she is reason I never bunk her classes❤🎉

[@wungreihaojamang8210]

She is the embodiment of Beauty with brains.. 🙏❤️💯🔥

[@ADOPT_HECKLER]

Men of culture have suddenly shifted interest to mekhala stories

[@kutosheyesca3867]

😂

[@atovenuh3055]

Her beauty is just insane! ❤❤❤

[@LikiAwomi-zx5lm]

Mekhala mama's has a clarity of word's.....amazing

[@mverick5444]

Unka caste Kya hai?

[@ajamozhui9981]

Korean will be jealous of her glass skin,my God,mam ur beautiful.

[@user-kd8xo5ro1z]

True and she has zero plastic surgery unlike them

[@tongchinglemla4213]

Mekhala is expensive but its worth ones we bought it. We can pass on to our children to grandchildren. Mekhala will never go out of style. Thank you both for challenging discussion. 👏

[@jamirzworldofficial]

She is still beautiful at this age, just imagine when she was young ❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊.

[@dynamic436]

A young age she wasn't that beautiful she had boycut hair which wasn't that pretty impressive

[@Tokwang]

As a student of Kohima College Kohima I confirmed she beauty to behold ❤❤

[@akaitravelmemoir6515]

The Lungleng Show is the next best thing in town... Hats off..😊 N without a doubt Mekhala Mama perfectly Epitomizes the Phrase 'Beauty with the Brain'🎉🎉😊

[@margaretshitiri8370]

Thank you for bringing her on your show...... She's a blessing to our Naga society......a prominent person the womenfolks of our generation can look up to.❤

[@imkongozukum3913]

She is icon to new generation...i admire her personality

[@tinakaliyepthomi4889]

I can listen to this Woman anytime anyday 🎉❤. She is a true Gem 💎. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@User_unkown11]

Such a beautiful, intelligent and confident woman. Inspiration for us naga women ❤️

[@danhumtsoe5306]

This is what we call 'genuine beauty and brains'.... a very genuine lady.

[@pangerlalongchar5588]

Two most iconic speaking skill person joint together this time.....i really envey two of your english speaking skill.

[@ruokuovoliekets8499]

When i first saw her in 2017 , i thought she was foreigner but later found out that she is a lecture in our college 😂

[@archanadutta7257]

Wonderful, intelligent and beautiful woman, with a mind to lift up her traditional weaves.

[@सशस्त्रयोद्धा]

I am astounded by this Soul Captivating thougts and Wisdom the lady wields.

[@sunepder4u128]

can we raise her to the national or international stage to represent the Nagas already? such a elegant and intelligent lady makes me proud. she is changing the perception of women power and feminism amongst the menfolks by showing that you can still be a woman and feminine. Big fan here

[@khrielaulhoungu7987]

This is quite a talk show ! Enlightening talk with someone ' 'Beauty with Brain' . Love every bit of yours' show.

[@jonkashung9680]

Wow! Very impressive talked, with full of insights. Thank God we have a beautiful Star (Mekhala mama) in Nagaland

[@___dae]

Such a calm, subtle, well-versed in her specifics and a beautiful lady. Truly enlightened on the subjects and the topics discussed, and also on her personal thoughts about the different aspects of our cultural paradigm shift. TLS, kudos for putting up a great talk. 👏🏻

[@servicetohumanity9256]

This is One of the best talk show and I wonder why people are not subscribing this Channel 😢.

[@gravityguard-lq3tp]

Mekhala mama still look like sweet 18😍❤😍

[@y.c.ongbouchang7200]

My appreciation and respect to mekhala mam for promoting the identity of Naga cultural and traditional attires. 👍👍👍

[@kevrut8599]

Kids watching Kim moon jin show, Legend watching this talk show❤

[@alotoawomi2286]

Wow.. That's the kind of feminist I like... And there are very few!!

[@jamesytgaming]

A true Naga woman with much to emulate from ❤

[@alinann98]

I was waiting for this episode. Learnt a lot. Thank you LS for having this amazing person @mekhalamama❤.

[@kt_jingrunaga]

A woman with brightest Brain, have learnt and understood her orating skill is absolutely astounding.

[@blackpearl6167]

Proud to be your student ❤... long live Dr Theyie 🖤

[@aloupaotei2948]

It is so good to see TISSians impacting our people in their unique ways. Very insightful discussion!

[@julitavemai5958]

They way she speaks about the kind of mekhala and knowledge of each textile is really inspired....it is true that we need to understand each textile...Big fan Ma'am ❤️😍

[@pusanoneikha1705]

Thank you for bringing her to your talkshow have heard about her by the name mekhela mama came across her always dressing up in mekhela and she is someone beauty with brain,so elegant and very challenging icon and am fortunate to come across this interview

[@tiredx9762]

Aya Isor, Sondor ase sondor. Will download in HD.

[@sheldonsazuki1823]

Speaking of culture and tradition,, i think our mother tongue is equally important. Most of the Western Nagas in towns speaking Nagamese even among one family and not being able to speak fluently ones own mother tongue doesn't even look good.

[@bethelsumi7064]

No artificial makeup, natural beauty! Ma'am, I like the way you are.

[@Taku-bae]

BEAUTY WITH BRAIN❤ My Goodness, always blown away by the thought of how hardworking she might be I mean, A mother,An Educator, An Impactful Influencer. ❤ My whole being just admire her. ❤ Totally floored everytime i see her.❤

[@Imkongnukla-Ao]

Such an inspiration ❤

[@peteneinuovenuh867]

First off, thank you for inviting Dr. Keditsu to the show. You prompt many good answers and we would love to see more!!! More than anything, I think she's a genuine person who truly cares about our society. In the age of influencers, we barely have any real role models to look up to. She is one of the few who truly inspires and persuades us to look within ourselves collectively. Someone whose wisdom challenges us to reflect on, learn, and unlearn. In one of the earlier podcasts she said: "We Nagas need to become the centre of our narratives". Listening to her on this show I see her evolving as that voice who is taking over our own narrative. She is a national treasure. :)

[@att9060]

Highly appreciated and please keep on uplifting our Naga society ❤

[@amankonyak6966]

The reason why oral tradition is unreliable is because it Changes as it's passed down and people tend to interpret the same story slightly deviating from the previous one,adding or leaving out certain details.I think it's quite natural( natural to our literate mind) to think of preserving any historical accounts in a written form.It's a rather inconvenient reality that ours is mostly lost, I would presume,or changed overtime but i would wish to have it written nonetheless. Awesome content.

[@joelkent4834]

I just want to add to this comment by saying that, that is why manuscripts have had been important, will be. At least, in this, there is right/advantage to belong in writing, I would say.

[@ajwenkhing4893]

❤❤❤ admiring this human with all my blood & flesh .......... Really makes me to think of... Yes she mention giving An idea not force yes that's an eye😮 open for me.

[@venepachizo3469]

She's an apple of my eyes

[@Vetu_Tenenu]

She Is mine

[@TheJourney-Toward]

She's an apple of my eyes.

[@Vetu_Tenenu]

@@TheJourney-Toward stay away from her

[@NOSEMOTION247]

Muk bahadur Khan benjot,stop ur nonsense comments ,she has already 6 children

[@appok658]

😂

[@Sukiemew]

So happy to know that Madam you are product of UESI Ministry...❤

[@mmjings1433]

She is so pretty I love her❤😆

[@apongimsong]

Tribals in perpetual assimilation is the only sentence that comes to mind ! Refreshing coversation here ! 👌

[@m.khotoringa3297]

Yes , one of the most beautiful lady , a figure and a multi -talented lady ❤️👍🙏

[@kevrut8599]

Just came here again to see her beauty😍

[@thotchihankashung4571]

Indeed she beautiful in and out. Well engineered talks. Truly admire @Mekhala Mama

[@kuluvetoshijoh8215]

The only show which I can watch till the end without any cringe. #ALL LOVE FOR U MEKHLAMAMA ❤😊😊

[@cuvezorhakho4423]

Throughout the whole video,I was watching her beauty and not words from both of you..😊

[@HUNTERHUNTER806]

I've learned a lot from this wonderful awesome conversation 🔥 Thank you ma'am and sir for this top notch conversation 🔥👏🏻😍 "In our society, Being assertive means aggressive or offensive..." Hell yeah... Absolutely correct✅

[@Iseehowitis009]

That's right being humble is always better than being assertive and cocky.

[@paulinusyangmaso2028]

Lungleng Show is quite interesting and enlightening and so hats off to Lungleng

[@toshiaier1025]

Very enlightening talk. Thank you

[@ashibokmurrumurru5676]

Seriously I love this episode❤

[@psalim2165]

Beauty with brain👍

[@777INMOTION]

Enjoying watching and listening ❤ the conversation

[@majormohommedalishahveteran]

Meaningful conversation 🎉

[@morouyikho]

She is an inspiration to so many... Appreciated 👍

[@nehemiahnaga3135]

Okay,after listening to what she has to say with regard to mekhelas and shawls,it makes alot more sense. Not all but some of the most influential Naga women are from the Angami tribe and i guess it has to do with the roots of the particular tribe. How to dress,speak,work etc..

[@shihotosumi6001]

Why is she so pretty?? 😍😍😍😍 I'm in love with her 😍😍

[@cuvezorhakho4423]

Wow hohho...she is my mum...

[@itchyballs3129]

@@cuvezorhakho4423 I love your mom.

[@cuvezorhakho4423]

@@itchyballs3129 thank you.. 😀😆

[@shihotosumi6001]

@@cuvezorhakho4423 sure you too must be very handsome 😊. Your dad is so lucky 😃

[@cuvezorhakho4423]

And you guys started believing me😀😆🤣.... 👏

[@KishangWungrei]

Absolutely enlightening, did I able to comprehend all the points? Not much but "critical thinking" is the key on such a diverse knowledge on culture and education. Thank you TLS.

[@takokinusa363]

Wow Mam is very beautiful and very humble❤👍👌

[@tiakaamlari9314]

Such a beautiful, respectable, intelligent, bold, humble, elegant woman, you are amazing🤩 I admire you and gets inspiration from you, more power to you 👍

[@sciencelover5813]

Sadly she is married to non-indigenous albiet advocating indigenous tradations...

[@nine9296]

@@sciencelover5813 miya?

[@tiakaamlari9314]

Don't be so negative

[@sciencelover5813]

@@tiakaamlari9314 ...I said sadly...big loss for us...!!!Such a women of great intellect to look upon...!!!

[@vincentsolo73]

@@sciencelover5813 bro, he is Khasi which makes him even more indigenous than even our Nagas' as far as concerned.

[@afipfithu3677]

I want her to be MLA to represent weman ❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-vt2ce2jc4r]

Just proposing an idea......thats a great statement......no one should be shamed or forced

[@mafiaqueen8192]

She is an icon and she’s the moment 🎉!!!!

[@mongbachn5159]

beauty beauty beauty everyone only talks and sees of her beauty. yet not to forget her BRAIN that I feel in my opine to be the best feature of hers. she is original of all our Nagas intellectuals. beauty will fade but words from her intellectual mind will endure forever.

[@mpk3361]

Very enlightening. This has sparked the motivation in me to delve more into my study and research. ❤

[@K.achilaJanger]

As far as iav seen A unique n potential women, Have never married to a person tat matched her quality or level .

[@nagasaga7]

2u know her husband? I think she married to khasi.

[@K.achilaJanger]

@@nagasaga7 etu he koi ase Chemistry nai tai Jun ,she deserve a husband more better.she could have married to week tribe in Naga to uplift

[@nagasaga7]

@@K.achilaJanger ya maybe! She's a gem💎

[@dawn3589]

​@@K.achilaJangerwhen did you see them both?

[@asenjamir6143]

Love this woman ❤

[@misty3813]

She can deliver Biblical message very powerfully

[@AmongMüphuz]

My favourite mama ❤ Big fan mam

[@user-vt2ce2jc4r]

Glad no one judges her for wearing mekhala from other tribe...... .i love different mekhalas but i was judged for it and asked to stick to my own.... I only wore other tribal mekhalas as a sign for respect and they were common once whose story i kind of know....

[@shinihoaye6188]

I wonder how brother lungleng prepares the questions with his rich skill of English.

[@narzaust]

I have seen extremely beautiful women and this year it is she. Wow!!

[@itwazaileitwazaile8365]

In those generation being deeply rooted to cultures is sometime people think we are out fashion, but i learnt alot from the one and only Makhela mama. Next time i won't be aggressive but i will be assertive 💯

[@aderose4193]

Beauty with a purpose🎉

[@NagasUltraVires]

She makes Beauty Parlour Beauty. ❤

[@amankonyak6966]

28:58 Thanks for speaking on this.More on this would be great.

[@aghatosumi829]

"How I can share what I believe in in creative ways"? Thank you ❤❤❤

[@robleo8639]

If I was married to her I'm gonna wake up every morning, I'll be like Oh My God it's Mekhala Mama. She'll be like- We've been married for 5 years. Me- yeah i know but still...

[@yukeme8441]

She is soo beautiful ❤️🤭

[@thechange0604]

Apart from her Beauty and inspiration how she managed to read lots of books ❤❤.

[@NyaneDaniel]

😊j j. 😊ĵu😊jikj jijj 😊ĵ😊ĵnj jnjj😊ĵj7u😊jnj j jj 😊ĵnj j j

[@NyaneDaniel]

😅😅😮😅j ijkjj 😊jjuhuhj. 😊ĵn. 😊jij😊 jnj ĵĵ nujjj jih😊jiujj 😊😊

[@NyaneDaniel]

Ĵ😊uiùunn😊kjkjĵj 😊ukkjĵnj. J😊ĵnj 😊ĵnj 😊jujjj ujjmku 😊jnj. Jkjjkĵuj j j jui😊😊jn😊jnj junn😊 😊😊

[@NyaneDaniel]

😊ĵnumnn😊jnj jinj ĵnjkjjj 😊ĵjnju 😊j j😊ĵjjnuhjunĵj j jjk😊ĵj.ihjjjijijn😊jijbjij 😊jjnj j 😊ij . Jun jjjij jj njk😊jukihiji😊jkijkjĵjiih😊ĵjjk7ji😊j😊j jj 😊ĵnj j j n 😊uĵu. 😊Khkuujuij7jujujjki j😊ĵujnj jnjku😊😊uij 😊j😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@NyaneDaniel]

Uinj😊iuiiuuj

[@Nagatutorvlogs]

Beautiful woman❤❤

[@ohmyworld.4429]

Mama but still beautiful.. Teenage me madly in love 😅

[@vklasuh3648]

Such a pleasant conversation. Mekhela mama emphasizes oral tradition and solving things quick and fast by sitting and talking, the way one should be allowed to express and so many things if you back and listen to this talk show again and again there are so much to learn.👍

[@Dimuk1984]

When she smiles, so beautiful

[@jingztheheartless2676]

I wanna see her younger version. Like seriously how she can be so beautiful Invite her on different topics next time 😊

[@piggy8827]

That's too much wisdom for most of us to take in .

[@Uff1234]

Communities have to constantly innovate and adapt to changing trends if we want our cultures to survive. Of course, we need to respect the core fundamentals but if we are rigid about many things that represent our cultures, the coming generations will lose interest in preserving it.

[@vilotolisumi3933]

Indeed an Inspiration show ever❤

[@mverick5444]

Unka caste Kya hai?