Ketholeno Neihu
Phesama | January 28
The Southern Angami Students’ Union’s (SASU) 67th Biennial General Conference got underway on January 27 at St. Paul School, Phesama under the theme “Be an asset not a liability.”
Speaker at the introductory session, Khrupi Sothu, Secretary, Nagaland Public Service Commission, in his address underlined the need for maturing through education. “Our education should be accompanied with a vision and the sensible farsightedness while doing away with our mentality of seeking and appreciating only governmental jobs,” Sothu said.
Stating that the event was organized as a seminar for the hundreds of civil service aspirants, Sothu lamented that only 86 youths attended and remarked, “Laziness, shyness and ignorance are impediments to educational societies.”
Sothu cited an all India Survey of 2014 which states that mobile, internet and gaming have contributed to a reduction in quality education in the country, and asserted that “attaining knowledge through education is a prerequisite,” adding, “skills and ability utilization is the need.”
Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) Treasurer Virul Kikhi also attended the programme as session guest.
An executive of the conference meanwhile sought to highlight the pros of having such conferences. “Student conferences are a conglomerate of intellect. With very good speakers it is a learning experience which is an important part of every student life,” the executive expressed.
Guest speaker of the academic session, Dominic Meyieho, Senior Asst. Prof. Assam Don Bosco Uni. stressed on the importance of “Inter-culturality” in Naga Society and lamented on the negative denotation caused by identity politics. Drawing attention to the multiple cultures existing in Naga society, he insisted that the differences can become a fellowship of unity through mutual dialogue and criticism, further enriching and purifying our culture.
A debate on the topic, “Demonitization of Indian Currency” was also held with Asano Zashii as the Critic.
Around 300 delegates from the 13 villages of Southern Angami region and guests from various areas and organizations are taking part in the conference which concludes on Sunday.
(The writer is currently an intern with The Morung Express)
‘Embrace learning, nature and life’
Phesama, January 28 (MExN): Addressing the inaugural session of the conference on Saturday as one of the speakers, former MLA Dr. Dietho-o Yhoshü implored students to brace themselves to cherish, embrace and celebrate three things- “Learning, Nature and Life”. “Short and simple, yet profound…All great men have done that. The love for these three can usher in balance, order, rhythm and harmony in your lives,” a press release quoted Dr. Yhoshü as saying. Maintaining that learning is a life-long process with no ‘age bar’ and that it is life’s greatest opportunity, he called upon all to try to learn something new each day. On loving nature, Dr. Yhoshü said nature is everything there is in the heavens and on earth, and people are to take care of it as one in charge.
According to the release, Dr. Yhoshü also highlighted the need to love life and to live it well by taking care of its four dimensions- physical, mental, social and spiritual. The important thing is to take heart and make midway or mid-course corrections; we have to learn to gird up ourselves and walk on, he added.
“In you, the past and the future meet. Love learning, love nature, love life and make your world better for having come this way at this time. When you do, our future is in good hands,” he told the gathering. SAGOK President, Nosazol Charles sent out a strong message that the people, including students, need to start thinking and planning for sustainability.
Angami Students’ Union President, Dievi Yano while delivering greetings, called upon the student community to uphold the mother tongue and identity. SASU president Teisovi Thorie highlighted that the organization has set up a new vision to bring positive changes in the society and that the conference was being held on the call to its members “To become assets, not liabilities”.
