Meriema campus joins NU 25th anniversary celebration

Students presenting a group song during the 25 years commemoration of Nagaland University at Meriema campus on September 6. (Morung Photo)  
 

‘A quarter century down the road, been a very bumpy ride fortunately we have survived’

Morung Express News 
Kohima | September 6

The state's lone University has attained 25 years on this day. At the Meriema campus, the family of Nagaland University joined in a grant celebration reminiscing the genesis and reflecting on its existence thus far. 

Professor GT Thong opined that the university "have travelled a quarter of a century down the road, it has been a very bumpy ride but fortunately, we have survived." 

He noted that the university till date has succeeded in producing 562 B.Tech graduates, 8740 Post Graduates, 40 M.phil, 386 PHD degrees besides numberous B.sc degrees. Also the faculty has generated about Rs. 105 crores from research projects and other development schemes for the university. 

"We have progressed for sure, but how satisfactorily? Can we honestly state that society fully benefitted from us? Have we contributed enough to the generation of knowledge to justify our existence?" these were the questions he reposed to ponder and introspect while noting that these are very difficult questions to answer honestly.

"To move on at the same lethargic pace would be damning Nagaland University to mediocrity forever and destroying Naga Society from the core. We cannot afford to continue with this laid-back attitude. It is time to wake up from our deep slumber to catch up with the rest of the country and the world and give back to Society what it has given to us," he pressed the conglomerate here. 

He then said a tone-up of all fronts was needy, adding that "our research has to improve"; and in many cases "to really start". He also stated that quality and academic output has to improve considerably if we are to make our products attractive in the job market and administrative and other support has to improve manifold- each component supporting the other, to contribute to positive growth. 

Underlying the objectives laid down during its foundations on September 6, 1994, Professor Buno Liegise who was presenting the "Origins" of the university said the core visions of the university for the state and as the 13th university in the country were to "disseminate knowledge by providing infrastructural and research facilities; make provisions for integrated courses in various disciplines; taking appropriate steps for promoting innovations; and paying attention to the improvement of the social and economic conditions and welfare of the state."

In its present structure, it has 3 permanent and 1 temporary campus, six schools and 41 departments, 7 centre of studies and has more than 60 colleges affiliated to the university. Yet such establishments, she maintained had "no campus" feeling during its beginnings and the years following it.

It may be mentioned that the University was established in the state of Nagaland by the Government of India in 1989 and came to being in 1994. Prior to this the erstwhile campus was affiliated to NEHU.

During the initial years, when the Kohima campus served as the interim headquarter of the NU, the professor recalled the history as checkered where departments and hostels "were housed in rented buildings that were scattered in different locations of the town. The growth and development of the campus was also impeded by several problems such as lack of physical infrastructure and matters related to land, finance and management." 

Liegise then opined that the university is a "work-in-progress" further looking towards physical infrastructural development as the need of the hour.

Earlier the flag was unfurled by MLA Imtiwapang Aier, an alumni of Nagaland University (NU).
The programme was chaired by Thungchanbeni Kithan and Dr Kevichalie Metha, Pastor, Peraciezie Baptist Church, Kohima invoked blessings. Research Scholar Dzüvinguno Dorothy Chasie recited a poem titled 'My Rugged University.' 

Earlier, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu President Ura Academy Kohima was to deliver the foundation day address.