Eno. Imchatoba Imchen
NSF Presidential Address
Respected Chairperson, Hon’ble Chief Guest Eno Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Respected Special Guest Eno Morung Makunga, Hon’ble MLA, Government of Manipur, President and his esteem Colleagues of respected organization in the Northeast, distinguished personalities, Invitees, former leaders of NSF, various committee members, delegates from Federating units and sub-ordinate bodies, Respected elders and the people of Mopungchuket, Ladies and gentlemen, at the very outset, I thank God Almighty for granting me this opportunity to deliver the Presidential Address on this auspicious day. I also thank the Naga Students community for having confidence on me and my colleagues to serve Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) for the tenure 2007-2009.
Today, we are gathered here at Mopungchuket Village, popularly know for its legendry lovers-Jina and Etiben who belonged to this village, to the aegis of the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM). I on behalf of the incumbent officials of the NSF and the Organizing Committee of this Conference warmly welcome each and every participant.
We have converged here under the theme “Forging Mutual Destiny” which is quite befitting in our context. Admittedly, Nagas struggle for nationhood has become an unending journey. Generation after generation has been treading the same road without any logical outcome, when the world is advancing rapidly the Naga people are still trapped in the ancient trend of thought that-Nagas can live in isolation with what it believes to be ‘full independence”. Today’s generation needs to do a thorough reality-check and need to realize that the world has become interdependent and not ‘fully independent, we need to reassess the idea of our struggle and bring to a logical end without compromising the basic features of an independent nation. Let face the fact that time has begun to run against us for which we cannot to lose even a single moment. A point has reached where we need to put our ideas together and re-examine which is within our reach and what is attainable. The decade long unresolved political issue has tremendously disrupted the minds of the younger generation making it impossible for the youth to develop themselves fully in the midst such conflicting state of affairs.
We need to also realize that we are not engaged with the entire world as far as our struggle for nationhood is concerned but it is with Burma and India to whom we are directly concerned with, as half of our home is within the administrative control to Burma and the other half within the administrative control of India. As a matter of fact, we also need to scruitnize the growing strength of these two nations and accordingly forge our mutual destiny. The inner differences within the Naga family requires an urgent attention of every Naga citizen. This impasse has to be sorted out without any further procrastination. It is apparent that there are some forces actively involve in fragmenting the Naga family and therefore a practical mechanism needs to be evolved in order to bring the entire Nagas together.
Shamefully instead of the Naga political issue occupying the center stage we have pushed our inner differences to take precedence while overshadowing the key issue. Even us we continued to put our efforts towards the healing the wounds and bringing all sections of the Naga family together it is absolutely imperative that we carry forward the present Indo- Naga peace process vis-à-vis political Dialogue as we have missed too many opportunities in the past.
Superannuation is one issue which is numerously been link to the NSF. I vividly recall 1991 when our former leaders sacrificed their selfless services to the extend of fast unto death. Superannuation was not an issue that NSF initiated in my time. The issue was taken up in response to the evolving developments that required our attention in the true spirit of justice and what we thought is best for our younger generation. I understand many baseless and wild allegations were leveled against the NSF and such other suspicions were felt and developed at its height. Nevertheless, we did not consider them as a stumbling blocks/detrimental factors but challenges that sharpened and emboldened our confidence to work harder cohesively. Today, I am proud to declare to you that we were not cowed down by the challenges that crossed our way. The true sense of satisfaction and justice dawned when the Government finally agreed to implement the demands of the NSF (legislation of length of service and assured to implement the same on the 28th November, 2008. Consequent upon, the Federation has anticipated during the first legislation that took place in the month of March 2009, however, the government explained that due to the model code of conduct of Parliamentary elections, the State government was unable to legislate in the first assembly yet the same gentlemen assurance was made to be legislated in the mid-assembly between June and July, 2009.
NSF was as vocal as it could be against all forms of corruptions in the NPSC institution which is the premier recruitment agency in the state. The corruption level has extended to haves and haves not! While there are thousand upon thousands of educated unemployed youths, there are a few who are using dubious means for personal gain totally discarding the larger interest of our society. It is very saddening and absolutely unfortunate. In this regard, much has been done but we pass on the unfinished tasks to the new incumbents to pursue further with renewed vision and strength.
Confidence building measures through the process of people to people contact and dialogue, consultation and exchanges all across the Naga Inhabitant areas was viewed as one of the utmost priority. As such, with intention to serve as a bridge of the communication gap and to forge mutual and collective wisdom and ideas in our society, the NSF undertook a journey to the people so as to serve as a platform for our people to express their minds and ideas. The initiative undertook the humble journey of meeting the respective tribal Hohos, Women/Mother organizations, Students’ and concerned citizens all across the West, East, South and North of the Naga areas. The tour took the NSF to all the areas where Nagas are, sharing concerns and challenges that our society is wrestling with.
Naga Students Initiative on “A Journey of Common Hope”
The most recent initiatives “A journey of common hope” was indeed a glimmer in the dark endeavoring to bring all the Naga Political Parties and Nagas in general under one common understanding. This journey today is bringing together the Nagas like never before. This journey is infusing the beautiful rays of hope for our people to move forward by understanding each other better through mutual respect and forgiveness. In support of the journey initiated by the FNR, the NSF too joined the journey of common hope meeting all the Naga national Political parties from Mon to Hebron and Hebron to Peace camp and so on. The tour expressed the minds of the young Nagas yearning for peace and appealed for reconciliation. We have also produced a film on the subject of reconciliation which will be release shortly. The journey also in a number of ways established mutual bonds with all the various Political Parties in the truest sense of objectivity and sincerity. Naga reconciliation to the NSF is a reality that is bound to come about.
The tide and force of the NSF state of affairs has changed its course frequently in many areas in the last two to three years. Our tenure has passed through this phase which I feel is one of the most multifaceted periods in NSF history. We were targets to constant allegations and mistrust particularly on superannuation issue which was a unique and unprecedented crises that we had undergone owing to various factors akin to political hypothesis based on vested interest. Nevertheless, the NSF have been growing from strength to strength because of a strong institution in nature, the purported constitutional crisis could settle amicable due to timely intervention by mentors and former leaders of NSF. I am afraid this unprecedented crisis may have far reaching consequences in future consciously or unconsciously and therefore I strongly feel that we should get rid of such feelings once and for all. As for me, I have no regrets because with the best of my leadership ability and efforts we have carried forward the mantle of NSF and acted above all forms of Political affiliation which in fact have been the biggest challenges through out the tenure. Our decision and actions were carried out with the best of motives for the benefit of the people. I understand that even our former leaders acted in the best interest of NSF and we are no exception. My sincere appreciation goes to my executive council, Federating units and Sub-ordinates bodies for their unflinching support and concern rendered, in spite of all the challenges and odds.
As I look back to our term of office, I can only sum up with the words of Helen Keller who once wrote “The marvelous riches of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were not limitation to overcome. The hill top hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse”. It has indeed been an enriching experience. In whatever capacity we may hold in the future we will always stand for the betterment of the society and work towards uniting the Nagas.
May NSF reach greater heights.
KUKNALIM.
