Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 2
Clad in traditional fineries, the Lirmen community in Kohima under the aegis of Kohima Lirmen Senso Telongjem today celebrated Tsungremmong here at Capital Convention Centre with much pomp and traditional gaiety. Gracing the occasion, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Chairman NSAMB Dr. Benjongliba Aier said that Tsungremmong is celebrated by sanctification of the self and the society for obtaining blessings from God.
“It has a strong bearing on the community building as the entire society come together to work, earn and eventually share with one another. In order to get the blessings from God, we need to sanctify ourselves,” he said. He said that during the last fifty years, Naga society had progress leaps and bounds. “Our population has increased from less than four lakhs to twenty lakhs. Literacy rate is now more than 85% which was less than ten percent 50 years back. Our living standard is moved from thatch house to RCC buildings. Few churches to more than 1500 churches. However, we are living in a broken society. There is a lot of economic inequalities, class distinction and social injustice in the present society,” said Aier.
According to J.H. Hutton, “Naga have fine qualities. They are simple, cheerful, humorous, courteous and hospitable people. Nagas are people with a sense of generosity at home, at work, and at gathering and their hospitality is overwhelming. Nagas are honest and truthful and have respect for their nation. Stealing is not common. They are healthy, active, vigorous and brave. The Nagas are well-built and enthusiastically looking for a true God and are also religious.”
Quoting this, Dr. Aier questioned “What are the qualities of Nagas we have today,” and stressed that we need a significant presence of Christ in our society today. “We are the leaders of our society and we need to follow the example of Christ leadership, for Jesus is a wonderful leader. No one can give his life for his followers like Jesus did,” the Parliamentary Secretary said. Dr. Aier challenged the gathering not to educate children to be rich but educate them to be happy so when they grew up, they will know the value of things, not the prices.
“Let us not cry over the past, it is gone. Don’t’ stress about the future since it has not arrived. Let us live in the present and make it beautiful as we do not know whether we can see tomorrow or not,” he said. He also felt that successful person should have desire to achieve a purpose, adding that integrity and wisdom are the two pillars on which to build and keep commitments. “People with good character accept responsibilities. They make decisions and determine their own destiny in life. Responsible people don’t think that the world owes them a living. Success is not something that you run into by accident. It takes a lot of preparation and character. It takes sacrifice and self-discipline. There is no substitute for hard work,” he added. Earlier, significance of Tsungremmong was given by A. Temjenlemba Longchar. Dimapur Lirmen Senso Telongjem, Kohima Lirmentsiir Telongjem and Toshinaro Imchen enthralled the gathering with folk songs. The festival concluded with a grand feast.
