Kohima: Nagaland legislator and advisor to the chief minister for technical education and elections Medo Yhokha on Friday night urged the student community from the Angami Naga tribe to be responsible citizens in society so as to create a “better tomorrow”.
Yhokha was addressing the students at the introductory session of the 29th biennial general conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) which is underway at the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama.
The three-day student conference also coincides with the commemoration of 75 years of Kohima Sub-Division Students’ Conference and 50 years of ASU’s existence and is held under the theme “Reflection”.
While addressing the students, Yokha said that the principles, visions, commitment and challenges that the senior leaders of the student body faced must be acknowledged and embraced. The advice rendered by them, he said, will lead the way for the upcoming generation.
Yhokha, who served as the president of ASU from 2005-07, said that he is mindful of the platform that the student body provides. He also encouraged the students to commit and carry forward the legacy, visions that were set for the general welfare of the community and the Nagas.
As the society is in a transitional period, moving from the past to the present and unto the future, he said that positive elements that shaped and moulded the present generation must be preserved and passed on to the future generation. He urged the need to refine the negative elements that were practiced in the past before passing it on to the next generation.
Further, he urged the students to exploit the opportunity through such conferences where people from the four regional units, namely the Northern Angami Students’ Union (NASU), Southern Angami Students’ Union (ASU), Western Angami Students’ Union (WASU )and the Chakhroma Students’ Union (CSU), come together to deliberate for the general welfare of the student community.
As there is a need to orient the community, he said that there is a need to put in collective efforts in order to lead to a better society and a “better tomorrow” that each one envisions. He challenged every individual to make a resolution to take up responsibilities with determination and commitment, and not just reflect on the past glories.
Kevisiezolie Suohu, the first president of ASU (1970), in his address also highlighted about the formation of the student body. He said that since the past days, such gathering of people have provided a platform for people from the tribe to deliberate on the general welfare of students from the community.
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Likewise, he hoped that whatever is learnt through the ongoing conference, be shared to people around even after the conclusion of the conference.
It is in this regard, he said that the union was formed for the welfare of the students and urged the leaders of the present generation to address issues that confront the student community, and to further voice the opinions of the students. He also added that students should not be deprived of education.
The former student leader also urged the need to preserve and promote the “Tenyidie” language. Furthermore, he said that the way of life of the Angami Naga tribe, particularly the good qualities, must be followed practiced.
During the conference, delegates attending the session were made to mandatorily wear masks, and maintain social distancing inside the hall. Thermal screenings of were done at all entry points. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the student body prohibited the lodging of delegates at the conference venue to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio will grace the inaugural session on Saturday as the special guest. Later that day, secretary general of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Neingule Krome and minister for higher education & tribal affairs Temjen Imna Along will address the cultural and academic sessions, respectively.
