Angami Students’ Union 25th biennial General Conference
Our Correspondent
Khuzama | April 20
Minister for Planning & Coordination, Evaluation and Geology & Mining, T.R. Zeliang, today asserted that the Naga youth must embrace new thinking.
“We cannot always imitate and emulate other brains. A time has come for us to contribute or market our ideas to the world outside,” the minister said, while gracing the inaugural function of the 25th biennial General Conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) here this morning under the theme “Embracing a new thinking.”
The minister said that when young people or society as a whole embraces new thinking, there is automatic transition and transformation.
“There is constructive and progressive thinking, while there is also destructive and corrosive thinking. When there is constructive and progressive thinking amongst the youth, the society and country as a whole shine and prosper. Where there is destructive and depressive thinking, the society, state and country are embroiled in violence and turmoil,” the minister said.
He asserted that one of the notable instances of new thinking embraced by Nagas and applied so far was the thinking that Nagas should give up head hunting and live in peace and unity to progress, forgetting the age old traditional thinking that man’s head was the trophy of his bravery.
Though it was inspired by Christianity initially, he said, it was the new thinking that sprung from within which Nagas embraced with determination. Today, due to this new thinking embraced by past leaders, Nagas are in a state of peace, unity and progress.
The minister felt that new thinking must enable one to self-create work and not stay idle, must be able to transform one from dependency to self-reliance, change one from consumer to producer, to evolve knowledge and skill based educational system in tune with the present and must be able to instill the spirit of active competition.
Stating that there is conventional thinking amongst educated young people and parents that government job alone is the only secure and guaranteed job, however less the salary may be, Zeliang said, “We are still not willing to embrace new thinking on this sector.”
In this, the minister felt that young talented people should start embracing new thinking on this issue and start venturing into private business, self-created and managed enterprises which have ample scope and prospect in this fast-developing world.
“In a state like Nagaland where everyone emulates and imitates others, it is important that professionals like engineers, doctors and technocrats should start embracing new thinking in their own field,” he said, adding that engineers must start thinking how to invent and develop technology of their own.
Doctors also should attempt to discover new germs and new vaccines according to their own research. He also said he believed strongly that once new thinking is embraced, Nagaland and the Nagas will be on the world map and become a recognized and respectable people.
“Even legislators and bureaucrats need to embrace new thinking,” he said adding that irrelevant and outdated legislations should be done away with and up-to-date and effective laws applicable to the present should be introduced.
“Art of governance needs to be revolutionalized with new and smarter ideas to suit the demand of day,” Zeliang maintained.
Expressing happiness that Naga youth are becoming well known both at the national and international level in many fields like sports, music, education, business etc, the minister reiterated that the government is “seriously committed” in assisting talented youths of the state in various fields and trying its best to provide avenues.
Stating that innovative minds could contribute many ideas to the government, the minister said the government is willing to accommodate their values in order to work better for the welfare of citizens.
Later, T.R. Zeliang released a souvenir of the Angami Students’ Union.
