Participants and dignitaries during the talk organised by the NEISSR.
Chümoukedima, November 25 (MExN): The North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) organised an ‘Inspirational Talk’ with Mohammed Ali Shihab, IAS, former Deputy Commissioner of Kohima as the resource person at NEISSR cultural hall peace centre, Chümoukedima on November 25. He addressed the students of Master of Social Work (MSW) and Vedhik IAS Academy.
During his address at NEISSR, Peace Centre Chumoukedima an initiative of the Catholic Church, Mohammed Ali Shihab stated that motivation should be given when a studentis young to aspire for UPSC and NPSC and that every Naga tribe should inspire students to be civil servants. He also shared insights from his life, recounting his initial posting in Dimapur as a young trainee and subsequent service in various districts of Nagaland for over a decade.
He emphasized Chümoukedima’s significance as a newly established district labelled by the government as the ‘Land of Opportunity,’ foreseeing substantial growth and prospects for its residents. Encouraging the students, he stressed the importance of their current location and the significance of their educational choices. He likened civil service aspirants and Master of Social Work students to converging rivers destined to create a unified purpose, likening their collaborative efforts to a delta where the fruits of their hard work and sacrifices would flourish.
Acknowledging his own fallibility, Shihab advised the students to dispel the notion that those excelling always proceed without missteps. He conveyed that present actions shape future outcomes, cautioning against distractions and temptations that could derail focus in life’s journey. Citing statistics on attention spans and quoting Robert Frost's iconic lines, he encouraged the students to embrace less trodden paths for meaningful differentiation in life.
He highlighted the plight of educated yet jobless individuals in Nagaland, attributing their predicament to attitude and decision-making. Shihab urged the students to remain optimistic and foster self-improvement, emphasizing the importance of knowledge enhancement across diverse fields. Stressing the value of imparting acquired knowledge, he urged students to return to their villages during December holidays and educate younger members of their community. Further, he emphasized the transformative power of small actions and beliefs.
