CPO President Vezühü Keyho delivering the presidential address during the 41st General session of CPO at Middle Khomi village. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 11
Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) President, Vezühü Keyho informed that the CPO has recommended Meluri Sub Division as an Election District and also issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) to create Meluri as a separate district with a condition that in the event of becoming separate district, the Chakhesang villages presently under 20 Meluri Assembly Constituency will join Phek district, for the interest and benefit of both (Chakhesang & Pochury) communities.
In his presidential address at the 41st General session of CPO at Middle Khomi village in Phek district on January 10, Keyho appealed to the Chakhesang community to seriously contemplate on the session theme 'Living in the Legacy of Our Elders.’
“Even though it is going to be a challenging task to live in the legacy of our forerunners, let us all beware that if we fail to live in the legacy of our elders, the efforts and sacrifices made by them would all have been for nothing,” Keyho said.
When we retrospect the past, he said, we find that we are a people who were said to be hard working, honest, open-minded, straight forward courageous and steadfast. “It is however unfortunate that we are now slowing losing all these positive virtues, and which can potentially change the very course of our lifestyle and of the generations to come.”
In line with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s (NBCC) Clean Election guidelines, the CPO and all the frontal organizations have resolved to endorse the clean election guidelines, he informed.
While appreciating the district administration, NHIDCL, concerned companies and land donor villages from Thenyizu-Dzulhami for completion of 2 lane road construction, Keyho said the CPO has also been giving its attention to the ongoing 2 lane road construction from Kohima – Jessami.
Recalling that the CPO along with Chakhesang Youth Front, district administration, NHIDCL and Contractors in all the packages had a joint inspection on November 17 last year, to expedite the ongoing construction “as the progress has been very slow in some packages,” Keyho said that the CPO has urged the contractor and NHIDCL to complete the contract within the stipulated time.
‘Living the legacy of elders’
Speaking on the session theme, Besesayo Kezo, IPS (Retd), former DGP Nagaland said that, materialistically, the Naga elders did not achieve much compared to other civilizations except for maintaining a subsistence level of civilization with bare minimal comfort.
“The unfavourable geography, lack of a common language and communication, small population, ignorance of political identity, and powerful nations surrounding them might have hindered their progress and development,” he said.
However, Kezo maintained that throughout history, they displayed remarkable moral virtues noted and praised even by their enemies like honesty, bravery, diplomacy, honour, hospitality, and compassion.
On top of that they could cobble up a motley group of wild tribes into a cohesive Naga nation with a definite and distinct identity apart from other existing tribes in the region against all odds and hand it down to our generation from nowhere; this is no small achievement, he stated.
“Should we inherit the legacy of our elders as it is? Or should we question its wisdom and adopt them selectively in light of modern civilization? This is the most important question for every Naga – old and young,” Kezo said.
He added that the Nagas and Chakhesangs must find out the answers for themselves after thorough public debates without emotion or prejudice. “They left a legacy that they held dear and followed during their lifetime. Nonetheless, we must not imitate them blindly because times have changed. Modern education has opened our minds and eyes. The idea of globalization has converted the whole world into virtually a global village,” he noted.
‘Think globally, act locally’
Presently, the current philosophy is “think globally, act locally,” Kezo said, while reminding that the world is becoming increasingly interdependent, and not more independent. No modern nation can exist alone, he stated.
Kezo observed that when it comes to interdependence for survival and treating human beings as ‘one family’, moral qualities like honesty, cooperation, hospitality, diplomacy, and mutual trust are required for good governance.
He maintained that the ancient Nagas were praised for these moral virtues even by their enemies. They were illiterate but kept their word, acted honourably in tight situations, and had sharp memories. Neither were they thoughtless nor dishonest. No written documents were required to prove their statements, he said.
Quoting William Shakespeare’s phrase ‘No legacy is so rich as honesty,’ Kezo said these examples as actions by Naga ancestors have proven it as fact.
Selection as norm for installing CPO office bearer
CPO Constitution Amendment Committee member Dr Zokho Venuh meanwhile informed that the committee recommended that selection and not election will be the norm for installing CPO office bearers. This was later endorsed by the House. In this, the Search Committee will do the necessary, he said.
Apart from other amendments, the House also endorsed for creation of a Property Secretary and one Joint Secretary post from next tenure of the CPO.
MLA Chotisuh Sazo; Vekhosa Chakhesang, President, Chakhesang Gazetted Officers Association (CGOA); and Timikha Koza, President, Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation also spoke during the session.
