Kohima, May 13 (MExN): The Kohima Ao Telongjem (KAT) held the first annual general meeting on May 12 at Molu Ki, Kohima with Tali Longkumer, IAS (Rtd) as the main Speaker.
Longkumer in his address said, “Nagas talk so much about development but people are confined more towards physical development. However, there is major concern for mental development of the people.” Nagaland, he stated, will literally develop when both physical and mental development takes place together, according to a press release.
Speaking on the theme ‘Befitting Citizen’, Longkumer encouraged the Ao community to work hard and bear honesty in all aspects of life. He shared some constructive points on how to become a befitting citizen, where he said the community needs to go beyond borders. “Only being culturally literate will not take the people forward but one has to go beyond the borders and exchange knowledge with others,” he noted. He also pointed out that a befitting citizen needs to walk the talk and called upon all the Ao leaders to diligently work and deliver what they have guaranteed.
Longkumer further stressed on being a disciplined, honest and visionary goal setter as an apt citizen. Saying that without God there is no success, he urged the people to fear the Lord and continue to seek for His wisdom to be able to lead the Aos and the Nagas at large.
Exhorting the gathering, Nagaland Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along lamented that Aos desire and talk about unity, but no precise step has been taken for an absolute unity. “The Aos are united only in principle,” he said, adding “Until the entire community unite and stand together as one, we will never succeed.”
Along further maintained that it is time for the Aos to be more humble, to seek wisdom from the Lord, and introspect to do what is right.
Stressing on some basic things for a cohesive community, he called on the Aos to accommodate and have a concern for each other in humility. God, the minister said, will be with such community and when God leads success is apparent. He urged all the members to have a principle of integrity and to honestly work for a better community and a better Nagaland.
Senior leader and a prominent retired State Government official Lipokmeren, also addressing the gathering said the present society needs honest and sincere officers and citizens to change the land, the release said. Urging the KAT members to take the lead, Lipokmeren said first the Aos should change themselves and their land and take the lead to change Nagaland. He also urged upon the elected legislators of the Ao community to unite as one irrespective of party and affiliation and to work towards change and bring back the laurels of the pioneers of the soil.
Short speeches were also delivered by president of KAT Er. Talitoba Sanglir and president of Kohima Watsu Telen. The meeting also nominated new team of KAT office bearers for the year 2018-20 with Chiden Yaden as the president, Moameren Imchen – general secretary, Pangertoshi Pongen – finance secretary, and Dr. Aochuba – treasurer.
