Impur, June 15 (MExN): In a noble initiative to honour one of the pioneering educationists in the Naga society, a renovated grave of the first school headmaster among the Nagas, Guizang Meru Zeliang was unveiled on his 123rd birth anniversary at the Impur Cemetery on June15.
Floral tribute was offered by the children and grandchildren of Late Guizang Meru and others at the newly built grave. The progenies of Late Guizang comprising of thirteen members from four generations arrived at Impur Mission Centre to pay their respects. They visited the Impur Mission Hr Sec School and interacted with the teachers. ABAM also organized a small fellowship programme at the Covenant Hall, ABAM Office.
Available records about the life of Guizang Meru Zeliang (1894-1918), the first headmaster among the Nagas who served at the Impur Mission School (present Impur Mission Hr. Sec School) from 1915-18, speaks of a story about a young man of faith, dedication and commitment towards the promotion of education in the Naga society.
“The WAM Group exhumed the mortal remains of Late Guizang and relocated the grave to a better site and honoured him today by giving floral tribute to the pioneering educationist,” WAM Event Management stated in a press release.
Former NBSE Chairman, Nini Meru, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the ABAM and WAM Event Management Group for taking the trouble in rebuilding the grave. She also informed that the family is taking the original tombstone back to Benreu village to be placed as a memorial among the graves of the family members.
ABAM, Executive Secretary, Rev Dr Mar Atsongchanger, while speaking at the fellowship programme, said that though the life of Late Guizang was cut short but his zeal, dedication and commitment towards education clearly shows that he was not a mere person.
Also saying that ABAM is greatly humbled by the gesture of the Late Guizang family who took the trouble to come to Impur to honor the late educationists, Dr Mar Atsongchanger disclosed that an agenda to name the Impur cemetery in honor of Late Guizang will be discussed at the ABAM Executive meeting. He proposed the name (earlier during the floral tribute at the grave) if the family of the late headmaster would be willing to name the Impur Cemetery as ‘Guizang Meru Zeliang Memorial Cemetery cum Park’.
Meanwhile, the WAM Event Management and ABAM are making plans to celebrate the 100th death anniversary of Late Guizang in 2018 by earmarking different programmes which will be highlighted in the media.
