By Ahmed Abdelsalam
In the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, 90-year-old Mosenyii Yakhro spends his mornings tending a memorial garden he built around his wife's grave in Kigwema village. Known locally as "Mosen Viewpoint," the garden has become a destination for tourists and village children alike over the past ten years.
A Garden Born from Grief
Before her death at age 80, Vivolheri chose the burial spot herself. Yakhro, a former government office assistant who educated himself through library books, transformed the site into a cultivated space overlooking terrace rice fields. He says the visitors' happiness brings him joy, though he grumbles that towering cosmos flowers now obscure other plants.
A Life Spanning History
Yakhro's memory remains sharp. He recalls Japanese soldiers arriving in his village during World War II, which locals call the "Japanese war," and cites precise dates that astonish listeners. Despite only a sixth-grade education, he credits his world knowledge to hours spent reading in the office library during his working years.
Family Legacy Continues
The garden serves as an annual gathering place for his family on January 15, Yakhro's birthday. He has already designated the same plot as his own future burial site, smiling at the thought of resting beside his "good woman and good wife."
