Kohima, October 14 (DIPR): Mejen Rongpang, a book on the tales and myths of the Aos was released today in Kohima by Chairman NIDC, Nuklutoshi.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Nuklutoshi said that the forefathers handed down oral history to the generation and in the process the community must have lost some good record over the years. At such, he said the Ao Students’ Union Kohima, (ASUK) has come out with a noble thought to keep the oral stories of the forefathers documented and said it is a great effort made by the younger generation to preserve the legend and tradition of the community. He expressed hoped that the legendary storybook will act as a good source and a great benefit for the future generation to get closer to knowing their history and roots. He encouraged the young scholars to take full advantage of the literature which would pave the way to flourish Ao literature not only in the State but to try and take the effort a step further for others to learn through means of technology. The chief guest categorically expressed his appreciation to the ASUK for bringing back the legend and tales to the new age and expressed hoped that this would bridge the gap between the past and the present.
Vice President, Ao Senden Martsungba also spoke on the occasion appreciated the effort of the publisher and said that the release of the book speak volumes of the vision the young generation has for the community and urged the youth to continuously keep themselves updated with learning the history and ideologies of the forefathers. He said that there are around 80 villages under Mokokchung district and wished that all the villages would contribute and participate in the coming years to be added in the next edition of the book, which he said would only help and expose their history to the people.
President, Kohima Ao Telongjem, Dr. Benjong Aier said that the book is a sign of preserving the old order and appreciated the initiative of the ASUK and wished that this could pave the way to reforming and reviving the long neglected Ao literature.
Dr. Tali Imsong, a scholar and a senior student leader while expressing his opinion said that with modernization the younger generation has better opportunity to explore and examine the history in detail and to refine, rewind and rectify the history of the forefathers and to ascertain the real roadmap of the new generation. He said that oral history could be forgotten but a good documentation would preserve the rich heritage of a community and therefore he urged upon the youth and the scholars to strive for wider knowledge.
Former Director, Printing and Stationery, Toshinungba also said that a community is known by its rich literature and called upon the younger generation to work towards reviving and owing a proper literature of the community.
Mejen Rongpang is a collection of tales and myths of the Aos and published by the ASUK, with an aim to educate the younger generation of the great legends of the forefathers and also to encourage the scholars to come forward for research and attain more knowledge towards knowing the history and heritage.
