‘Our ideals should transcend beyond ourselves for good of all generations’

Temjen Imna Along addressing the 40th RSU conference on January 23. 

Dimapur, January 23 (MExN): “We Nagas have to become a hardworking and goal centric people. Our ideals should transcend beyond ourselves and envision for the good of all generations to come."

This was said by Minister of Higher & Technical Education, Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, while addressing the 40th General Conference of the Rengma Students' Union (RSU) on January 23.

The Minister acknowledged the RSU on their celebrated theme, "Skill, Self Reliance and sustainability," and further asserted that Rengmas are hardworking people and good leaders had emerged from their tribe, who were known for their loyalty to serve the Nagas in different capacities.

He urged the students to emulate the qualities of their past leaders as their driving force in their endeavor to reach higher goals in life, while adding “what we are today will determine what we will become in the future.” 

Along lamented that at the present state, the Nagas seemed to have “lost our goals and have become short cut people where we don't sit together to debate with reason, but has become judgemental  in our approaches,  filled with egoistic attitudes.”

As per a press release Issued by Media Officer, Nagaland State BJP Unit, Imna also pointed at the menace of social media abusers who has become self style heroes and thinks that “what they think is right, and that others doesn’t have any rights.”

Yet, the sad thing about us, he stated was remaining silent and paving way for anti social elements and mushrooming of Unions and numerous organisations where disintegration of social scenarios have become the order of the  day.

However, the Minister stated that Nagas are humble people who choose not to speak out or ask questions when things are going wrong.

He said, “A time has come for the Nagas to ask questions on why they are asked to shut down their shops or why numerous agitations are taking place.”

Along also said, "Battles and wars cannot be won by tactics alone, they have to be built on strategies and a strategy to build our people as a strong Naga entity, should be an endeavor for all of us."

Asserting that we need to come to a developed state of mind in order to build a robust state,  the Minister opined that when somebody shouted  'Jai Shri Ram,' it doesn't give them any right to commit atrocities against the minorities, and that is what the Nagaland State BJP will always stand for.

“When somebody yells, 'Allah Hu Akbar,’ it doesn't give them the right to murder people of other faith. So also is with the Nagas,” he added.

"When we say 'Hallelujah! Praise the Lord," it doesn't give us the right to become judgmental of people from other faith.”

Rather, we should treat people with respect and love as we would want them to treat us in the same way, Imna said.

The Minister further urged upon the students community to rise up to the occasion and be sincere and committed as they are the future leaders of the State and to strive for a peaceful, robust Nagaland.