Nagaland University turns 25

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda speaking at Lumami on September 6. (Photo Courtsey: Sashimeren Jamir)
 

Union Tribal Minister assures help for Tribal Affairs Centre

Morung Express News
Lumami | September 6

Nagaland University today celebrated its 25th anniversary with Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda as the chief guest. 

Charge d’affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi, Thirapath Mongkolnavin; Nagaland Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Imna Along Longkumer and many others were also present.

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda said that the university, since its establishment in 1994, has been a citadel for young people to hone their academic skills and become productive citizens. He pointed out that a university is not just a structure but it includes the entire community and the generations of students and teachers who make the institution. He underscored the need for scientific pursuit of knowledge irrespective of the artificial divisions of race, caste and gender.

“We are a part of humanity, and until everyone progress and have to opportunity to fulfill their potentials and transform their dreams into reality; our goals will only be mirage. For this mirage to become oasis, we need to not only work hard and dream big but also use our research capability to innovatively address the real problems that our nation today faces,” said Munda. He further encouraged people to demand their freedom to criticize and discuss, not only within the university but in every sphere of their lives.

Munda meanwhile added that the onus is on the higher education institutions, especially on the teachers, to prepare their students in a way that they are globally relevant and sensitive to the needs of society.

He also said that with the ever improvement in educational techniques, traditional teachings will not suffice. In this connection, he said that that millennial children grow up in a world filled with complexities and a world that is challenging socially, emotionally and technologically. Therefore, he maintained that the teaching community should not lag behind but should learn new things every single day. He said that the challenging and relentless search for answers should be the true objectives of education and at the same time asked the teachers to focus on areas like inequality and environment.

The Union Minister also suggested that Nagaland University make a concept note establishing a ‘Centre for Excellence for Tribal Affairs.’ He stated that the Centre should focus on the tribal philosophy, tribal psychology, values and ethics. Munda assured that once prepared, the concept note would be processed for approval by the Government of India. 

The Charge d’affaires of Royal Thai Embassy, Thriapath Mongkolnavin, who was the guest of honour, expressed his desire to tour the NU Lumami Campus and nearby villages to get a better understanding of Nagaland, the Naga people and their cultures. 

He highlighted about the importance of the connectivity between India and the south-east Asia through the ‘Act East Policy.’ He stated that even Thailand has adopted a ‘Look West Policy’ in order to look beyond the South East Asian countries. Mongkolnavin added that the ‘transnational highway’ (IMTTH or India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway) that connects India with south-east Asia and traverses across Nagaland would facilitate people to people exchange in the field of agriculture, roads, biodiversity etc. 

Minister for H&TE and Tribal Affairs, Nagaland, Imna Along meanwhile challenged the gathering to imbibe the spirit of hard work and to think beyond government jobs alone. He pointed out that Nagaland is at a threshold between two trajectories of India’s Act East Policy and south east Asian countries looking towards the ‘west’.

He asked the Naga scholars to gain the requisite knowledge, become able citizens and social entrepreneurs. Along meanwhile lamented the rampant deforestation and mining in the name of globalization and said that “this is not the Nagaland and India that we look forward to.” 

He further urged NU to also focus on vocational education and skill development.