KIGWEMA, India | October 30, 2026 — Every morning, 90-year-old Mosenyii Yakhro tends a garden surrounding the grave of his beloved wife in a village in northeastern India, keeping her memory alive through a place that has since become a gathering spot for local children and visitors.
Located in Kigwema village in Nagaland, the garden, known as Mosen Viewpoint, was created around the burial place of his wife, Vivolheri, who died at the age of 80. She had chosen the spot herself before her death about a decade ago.
What began as a personal expression of grief and remembrance has gradually become a small community attraction, drawing tourists who come to see the garden and meet the elderly man who continues to care for it.
“I feel very happy. I enjoy knowing their happiness,” Yakhro told the Associated Press, referring to the visitors who enjoy the place.
He remembers his wife as a loving partner and a woman deeply cherished by their grandchildren. His daily gardening has become a way of maintaining that connection while sharing the peaceful surroundings with others.
Yakhro’s life story is also closely connected to the history of the village. At 90, he can still recall the arrival of Japanese soldiers during World War II, an experience he refers to as the “Japanese war.” Kigwema was among the villages affected by the Japanese advance into northeastern India in 1944.
The village lies near Kohima, the site of one of the decisive battles of World War II in Asia. The Battle of Kohima, fought from April to June 1944, saw Allied forces, including British and Indian troops, repel a major Japanese offensive aimed at entering India from Burma. The Nagaland government has documented Kigwema’s wartime history and its place in the region’s heritage.
Beyond its history, Kigwema is known for its Angami Naga heritage, traditional village life and scenic mountain surroundings. The Nagaland government has also promoted the village through heritage tourism initiatives highlighting its culture, agriculture and historical significance.
Despite having completed only sixth grade, Yakhro developed a lifelong interest in learning. He said he gained much of his knowledge through reading books in a library while working as an office assistant in a government office.
The garden has also become part of his family’s traditions. Every January 15, relatives gather there to celebrate his birthday. Yakhro has expressed his wish to be buried beside his wife when his own time comes.
For now, he continues to look after the flowers, plants, benches and other features of the garden. He occasionally worries that the growing cosmos flowers are overshadowing the other plants, a small concern that reflects how personally involved he remains in maintaining the place.
As the world observes the season of remembering the departed, Yakhro’s garden offers a quiet reminder that remembrance does not always take the form of monuments or grand memorials. Sometimes, it is found in the simple, daily act of caring for a place where someone deeply loved is laid to rest.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
