Dignitaries with participants of Inter-Unit Literary Competition.
Kohima, October 14 (MExN): The second inter-unit literary competition, with the theme, ‘Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace’, which was the theme for the International Literacy Day, 2024, organised by the UNESCO, was held at the Sare Memorial Hall, Eastern Mission High School, Chizami village, on October 5.
This programme brought together more than 260 participants, including village leaders, head of various institutions, teachers, former presidents, sponsors, students, invitees, other dignitaries and well-wishers.
The inter-unit literary competition is a biennial event organised by the Chizami Range Students’ Union (CRSU) comprising of Chizami Students’ Union, Chizami Town Chakhesang Students’ Union, Enhulumi (Yoseba/Pfütsemi) Students’ Union, Mesulumi Students’ Union, Sumi Village Students’ Union, and Thetsumi Students’ Union.
This event was a collective effort to nurture and promote local talents while staying rooted in our own indigenous more cultures through different competitions viz., oral folktale, poetry recitation, debate, poetry writing, essay writing, sketching, painting, photography, indigenous duet with tati, solo and quartet.
The speaker, Medongu Chirhah, Assistant Registrar, Nagaland University Hq, Lumami, said, ‘we give so much importance to English and neglect our own mother tongue’. He said that multilingual education is the use of multiple languages in teaching and learning and is a key part of education system in countries with linguistic diversities like India, “more so, in Nagaland, and even so, in Chakhesang community as we have diversity in our dialects.”
He stressed the importance of multilingual education as it helps in enriching cultures and global understanding, enhancing cognitive abilities and giving global career opportunities, improving academic performances, effective communication across borders, fostering respect for diversity and brings unity. He also stated the advantages of learning new languages.
He urged the students to learn and preserve their own dialect and take it as an alternative subject wherever available and thus preserving and languages as embracing multiple languages fosters a deeper connection to Naga culture and heritage. He challenged the students to learn how to read and write our own native dialect before it is too late.
Pfhülo Sara, President, Chakhesang Students’ Union in his exhortation said that it is encouraging to see a platform being provided to young people to perform and nurture their talents. He encouraged the gathering to learn and prepare for better tomorrow. ‘Competition is not about winning but participating and emboldening and becoming a better version of yourself.’ He exhorted the gathering saying, ‘there is no shame in doing anything that makes a living. What gives you livelihood is more important than your pride and ego.’
Wekhrope Akami, Assistant Director, Industries & Commerce, the speaker for the second session, spoke on the importance of being honest with oneself, with others and with God. He urged the gathering to analyze themselves, find their weakness, focus on that and grow. He stressed on the importance of time management and also encouraged the students to choose good friends who will help them grow positively. He stated that when we are honest with ourself, others will not see, but we will grow.
He encouraged the students to be honest about their weaknesses and their struggles with others so that they can help you grow. But most of all, he said that it is most important to remain honest with God and to put God first.
Khrolhiwe-u Tsühah, Media Secretary, Chakhesang Youth Front in her greetings stated that the knowledge and experiences gained as students will not just transform and shape the future of the individual but the future of the community. She encouraged the students to leverage their peer learning, sharing, celebrate the diversity and appreciate the similarity and differences. ‘While we become global citizens, and keep ourselves relevant and contextual, we also must remind ourselves to stay rooted in our indigenous values.’
The results were declared by Khropfolo-u Lasuh, President, Thetsumi Students’ Union while the prizes were distributed by the various dignitaries present.
Yiekhwetso K Lohe, President Enhulumi (Yoseba/Pfütsemi) Students’ Union and Tekhewulo Chirhah, Social and cultural secretary, Chakhesang Students’ Union moderated the competitions.
Ghoshito Lohe, President, Sumi Village Students’ Union, acknowledged the guests and Wekhro Tsuhah, President, Chizami Town Chakhesang Students’ Union, gave the concluding remarks.
Depe-u Vero presented songs in the first session while Kekhroku Tsuzuh performed a song in the second session. Khelo Lohe, Pastor, Chizami Baptist Church and Neipe Puro, Catechist, Sacred Heart Church, Chizami invoked God’s blessings for the programme.
