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The Classic Club presenting the Classic Award 2019 to Diethono Nakhro. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | October 2
The Classic Award 2019 was awarded to Disability Rights Leader and Icon Diethono Nakhro on October 2 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. The State Commissioner for Persons with Disability was honored for her resilient campaign and activism for the rights of Persons with disabilities in Nagaland.
Held annually on the Foundation day of Classic Club, this year marked the 25th Foundation day of the Club, well known for its social services.
"The greatest pain in life is to be invisible – to feel like nobody cares about you, to be treated like you don’t matter. But I realised this was exactly how it was like to be a disabled person in Nagaland after I met with a car accident in 2006 and landed up in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury," said Diethono Nakhro during her acceptance speech.
In her disability, Nakhro arrived to a realisation of Naga society which she viewed as a very exclusive society –'a society that caters only to the so-called normal people'. "People living with disabilities are not counted or included in anything. It’s like we’re invisible – we exist, but we don’t matter, " said Nakhro citing the example of education where most children with disabilities are deprived of proper education because of the inaccessibility to any of the infrastructures of educational institutions.
Having experienced how society has failed people living with disabilities, Nakhro recounted that this realisation led her to speak up and fight for the rights of the disability community.
For Nakhro, fighting and supporting the disability community did not mean 'feeling sorry for disabled people or carrying out a charity mission', but essentially it meant 'giving the disability community their due as equal citizens of the state'.
"People with disabilities, children with disabilities, are not inferior citizens – not third class citizens. They are equal citizens and deserve the same opportunities as everyone. This is the message I want to put out today," asserted Nakhro who acknowledged the Classic Club for the Award which has amplified the voice of the disability community through the recognition. Nakhro dedicated the award to the entire disability community in Nagaland.
Acknowledging the contribution of Diethono Nakhro, Special Invitee Lhoubeilatuo Kire, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, noted that Nakhro is one strong personality who has responded to many of life's calling from being an educationist in the early 90s to her stint in the field of journalism.
"Though one may get international or national recognition, if people with whom you are living with on a daily basis do not recognize you or feel the work that you do is not worth recognizing, it does not give us personal satisfaction. But today the Club has rightly chosen Diethono Nakhro for her achievements and this perhaps gives everyone a sense of satisfaction," said Kire urging to a future where the rights of the PwDs are recognized and respected.
"This year the Classic Award 2019 has been awarded to Diethono Nakhro for shouldering the noble responsibility of advancing the cause of people with disability and work constantly to uplift the conditions of the lesser privileged people, " said K. Neibou Sekhose, President, Classic Club during the award function. The President also reminisced on the past of the Club which was formed in 1994 to pursue the positive ideals in helping Naga society with the motto 'Aiming Higher'. "We can look back with a sense of satisfaction at the achievement we have made during the last 25 years. However, the road ahead is still very long and we have so many tasks to fulfil." said the President. The President also announced that a yearlong program for the 25 years celebration of the Club is underway which will culminate on the finale of the 25th Classic Cup 2019 in November.
Recipients of the Classic Award includes renowned personalities like Bano Z. Jamir, Late Dr. T. Ao, Methaneilie Jütakhrie
The Classic Award was initiated in 1999 in recognition of individuals/organizations excelling in the field of sports, social service, education, health service and humanitarian works etc. The Award carries a citation along with cash prize of Rs. 25000/.
