AR Rahman lights up Kohima Orphanage in Nagaland before Christmas

Kohima: World-renowned Indian composer, singer, songwriter, music composer and philanthropist AR Rahman has made Christmas extraordinarily special for the children at Kohima Orphanage of Nagaland by sending gifts and a personalised message.

“It was wonderful hearing your joyful voices during my visit to Nagaland. All of you are immensely talented and unique. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping to see you soon,” read the message.

Christmas is a time that means home and family, and his benevolent gesture has really touched the hearts of the children at Kohima Orphanage. The gifts, which were handed over by Theja Meru, Advisor to Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), on Monday, were received with smiles radiating in the faces of the 93 children. Kohima Orphanage was founded by Mother Zaputuo-ü Angami in 1973 and is now run by her daughter, Neibanuo Angami.

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Expressing her gratitude, Neibanuo Angami said, “I am very grateful to AR Rahman for making us feel very special and important. The children are so happy and it’s like a dream to see them like this. It was an honour to have him visit us during Hornbill. May God bless him. We are all praying for him.”

With a special heart for children, Kohima Orphanage was one of the first places the maestro visited during his recent and first visit to Nagaland. ‘Sunshine Orchestra’, an undertaking of AR Rahman Foundation that aims at educating underprivileged children, will now also involve the children of Kohima Orphanage and is expected to take off in January next year.