NSF Chief Election Commissioner K Elu Ndang with the new executive council of NSF during 29th general conference of NSF in Kohima on April 30.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 30
Kegwayhun Tep has been elected as the new president of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) for the tenure 2021-2023.
Tep, who is the outgoing NSF secretary education, represents the Rengma Students’ Union (RSU).
The new executives of the NSF were announced by Chief Election Commissioner K Elu Ndang at the valedictory function of the 29th general conference of NSF at Naga Solidarity Park, Kohima on Friday evening.
Other office bearers included; vice president- Atokiho Sümi (Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhakulu), General Secretary- Süpuni Ng Philo (Poumai Naga Tsüdoumai Me), Social & Cultural Secretary- Benjong Longchar (Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM)), Education Secretary- Medovi Rhi (Chakhesang Students’ Union), Information & Publicity Secretary- Intesuiding Zeliang (All Zeliangrong Students' Union)), Games & Sports Secretary- Kaisü Chakre (Mao Students’ Union), Speaker-James Kashung (Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong).
Every Naga can respect each other's individual identities: Vikheho
Speaking at the valedictory session as the special guest, MLA Y Vikheho Swu said that the Naga Solidarity Park came into being in 1993 in commemoration of the United Nations declaration of the year for the world’s indigenous peoples.
He said the idea behind having a Naga Solidarity Park was that it would be a “Sacred” place for Nagas to come together to re-strengthen, renew and to re-bond, whatever may come our way.
Swu said the NSF since its inception has played a pivotal role in as much as Naga unity and identity is concern.
He said the NSF & NPMHR collectively approached the state government after identifying this land to which the state government without any hesitation allotted the land to NSF in 1993.
Touching on Naga political issue, he said there is no better time than today when the Government of Indian is trying its best to solve the Indo-Naga issue, and when most of the Naga political groups have come forward to the negotiation table- “that we should all try and extend support to both the Government of Indian as well as the Naga political groups for an honorable, acceptable and inclusive solution to the long pending Indo-Naga political issue.”
He said that there are more than 7000 living languages in the world, but UNESCO predicts more than half will be extinct by the end of the century.
“We cannot allow our tribal tongues to become statistic in such a grim list,” Swu said, who is also the former president of NSF.
He regretted a Naga family in the past which had been considered a moral training ground for future generations, no longer stands the test of time. The community life and support system that still exist in small towns and villages are all fast fading away.
“Smartphones have replaced the activities that bonded us to our family members. And that's not the fault of technology, it is our inability to appropriately use the technologies provided to us to our advantage,” he said.
He said every Naga can respect each other's individual identities while acknowledging the fact that “we are all equally valued parts of the same fabric that our ancestors were cut out from.”
“Our youngsters are getting educated, but, how much of their learning is actually useful in practical world? It is time we need a paradigm shift in our thinking and perception. We should discourage the obsession for government service alone amongst younger generations, we need Naga entrepreneurs more of a path finder's to bolster our economy,” he said.
Earlier, the valedictory session was chaired by Supongmeren Jamir while vote of thanks was proposed by organizing committee co-convenor O Wati Jamir.
