Nukshila Aying, Naro Thiek and Niketu Iralu
More good or evil for creating heaven or hell on earth originate from our family roots than we realise. As physics tells us there is more inside the atom than is seen or guessed, so also there is more potential for good or bad inside the family unit of society than we think. A series of workshops on “Healing Family Roots” conducted in Dimapur and Kohima between November 24 and December 4, 2008, have thrown light on this wonderful and fearful reality about families. Liu Ren Jou from Taiwan and Mr. and Mrs. Lim Jeon Seon from Malaysia have come to conduct the workshops. They are working with Initiatives of Change (I of C), formerly MRA/Moral Re-Armament. A group of Nagas sharing the same concerns for the deteriorating crisis of relationships paralysing Naga families today organised the workshops.
The effectiveness of the workshop is evident from the moving acknowledgements made by many of the participants of their own pains, deprivations, and hurts, and finding release and healing by acknowledging the pains and sufferings of those they have blamed or judged. A power from heaven itself seems to be released when human beings find the grace to say “I have seen only my side of the pain so far. I now understand ....” The workshops in Kohima were conducted by the newly launched “Awakening Bells Centre” (ABC) at Kruoliezou, near TM High School. An ABC statement says “the prolonged political turmoil in our land has left in its wake many children traumatised...ABC has been set up to awaken the social, moral and spiritual consciousness of our people...to help create a safe and enabling environment for affected children with a holistic approach and journey with them to heal their deep hidden wounds and thereby help them become responsible and conscientious persons of our society”.
The twenty-bedded facility will provide psycho-social support and community care for a period of six months to one year, depending on their needs and circumstances. Liu Ren-Jou, the designer of the now widely known workshop, said, “Through the workshops in Dimapur and at ABC I have sensed the deep pain and sorrow that so many in Nagaland have also gone through in their lives. The fact that the ABC Board Members have organised the workshop for themselves and their young staff before the arrival of the children shows their proper understanding of the special task they have taken on for their people. I am inspired by their commitment and their honest identification with the suffering of the traumatised children they want to help. This workshop programme and ABC have met at the right time. I extend my best wishes and I want to continue to help if needed”. The organisers of the workshops are most grateful for the generous assistance received from a number of friends, officials and senior leaders. Their understanding of the significance of the workshop for our society at this time has been a great encouragement.
