‘Education should draw out the best’

Kohima, August 29 (DIPR): The 5th N.I. Jamir Academic Excellence Award for HSLC toppers organised by Kohima Ongpangkong Tzukong Telongjem, (Kohima Ongpangkong Range Union), KOTT, was held today at Ungma KITI, Kohima. Two students, Imlimenba Walling from Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung who topped the 2011 HSLC examination in 13th position and Moayanger P. Ao from Little Star Higher Secondary School, Dimapur who topped in 14th position were awarded today.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, MLA & Chairman NIDC & NHL, Nuklutoshi congratulated all the toppers for bringing laurels to the community and wished them a bright future in their educational pursuit. He said N.I. Jamir was a great achiever himself in education, bureaucracy and in politics, which led the Naga people and in particular the Ao community as a torchbearer.  The chief guest called upon the younger generation to follow the path of the leader who had contributed much for the people of Nagaland and become a role model like him. Saying that the Ongpangkong Range is a forerunner in many front among the Ao community and therefore should realize the responsibility and to lead the people towards progress. He said that education is vital for survival and urged the community to set their target at achieving 100 percent literacy in the true sense. He also lauded N.I. Jamir and family for initiating the excellence award for the best successful students, which will go a long way in encouraging the students resulting in achieving greater laurels for the community and the State.
Delivering his speech as the main speaker on the occasion, Associate Professor, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, Akok Walling said that in today’s world success could be achieved by everyone but the most important thing is that one has to be the best among the successful ones. Emphasizing on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Professor Walling said that education should aim to achieve an improvement in the quality of life, a change in behaviour, without which the goal of education will not be achieved fully. Stressing on Gandhiji’s concept of education, Professor Walling said that education should draw out the best in a child and also men, in all body, mind and soul. He said, education should give a person the confidence to tackle life’s challenges. While saying that value education and skill development is an asset for an individual to excel above the rest, Professor Walling particularly urged the toppers to be more sincere and to be fruitful in their endeavour and also called upon the youngsters to follow the path of the achievers and wished for them more success in the days to come.
Earlier, Mrs Yashikala, wife of late N.I. Jamir, speaking on the occasion expressed her gratitude to Ongpangkong Range Union for expanding and keeping alive the works of her late husband and urged to continuously keep the flame of prosperity burning. While congratulating the toppers, she urged upon the students to have greater vision and to be focused in their goals and bring about a transformation in their lives. Lipokmeren IAS retired and Sentiyanger Imchen IAS on behalf of the Ao Officers Union also spoke on the occasion.
In his introductory remark, President KOTT, Chubalepzuk Ao gave a brief life history of N.I. Jamir and why the need to initiate the award in his name. He said, Jamir was the first graduate, who went on to become the first IAS, a Chief Secretary and a Cabinet Minister from Ongpangkong Range. With an aim to honour the great leader and to keep his good works alive, the KOTT resolved to initiate the award during the Union’s silver jubilee in 1997. The Award was started in 2007 and is awarded to the students from Ongpangkong Range who stood amongst the Top Rank holders of HSLC Examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education. The recipients receive a cash amount of Rs 10,000 each along with certificates.
The recipients of the award attributed their success to their parents, teachers and well wishers and said they will continue to work hard in future. They also thanked the Award Trust Board for acknowledging their success.  Imlimenba Walling and Moayanger. P. Ao is now pursuing higher education in the Science Stream in St. John Higher Secondary Residential School and Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, respectively.