Miniona Menuokuou Ichudaule Lungalang
I cannot recall any memories, of my own, of my paternal grandfather, Apau, as we called him in Zeliang. Lhuviniu Lungalang as others, especially the older generation may remember him.
I know this may sound absurd, disrespectful even, to make a confession about my own father’s father but let me explain. It was the summer of 1991 when my twin and I were on the cusp of turning 4 that cancer released Apau to his eternal rest. We were simply too young to remember. What memories we have of him are only aided by a video of Atsa and him on their 45th wedding anniversary. Photos of sitting on Apau’s lap as he held us or us standing beside him or simply just being near him. Of course, as we grew older, and grew in cognizance, our parents, families, extended and otherwise, reminded us about who Apau was and what he was able to accomplish both in his personal and public life. To mention a few, I’d like to believe that the editor of the Nagas in Nagaland: Who’s Who (1990) aptly described, not THE essence but, AN essence of Apau when she likened him a pioneer. Because, in many ways, he was just that. Apau was the first science graduate with distinction amongst the Nagas from Calcutta University in 1938. He organized the first Naga student’s conference when he was a student himself in 1936. Apau was also the Chief Secretary from 1971-1973 of what was the newly formed state of Nagaland in 1963. Apau was also a founding member of the Nagaland Peace Center and became active in the peace efforts of the State as a member of the Liaison Committee of the Nagaland Peace Council (NPC).
Maybe I personally cannot recall any memories, of my own, of my grandfather. But as I have come to learn about the man from my family, friends of the family, sometimes even relative strangers, who did not withhold their generosity to honor the man they once knew and remembered in the manner they spoke of him, I have felt a deep sense of pride to be Lhuviniu Lungalang’s granddaughter. I am honored to have a name that is embedded synonymously with a man who truly committed to his calling to serve others. And despite Apau’s demise at a very early season in my life, I have had the privilege of getting to know him and learn about who the man my grandfather was. For all his shortcomings, of which I do not doubt there were many, because he was flawed, as all of us, who have honestly examined our own selves can stake claim, Apau was a hardworking man with integrity, heart, honesty and determination. Above all, he was principled.
However, it is perhaps fair to say that there may be no one who may remember this particular man from Benreu Village, today. This is understandably so, because memory is fragile. At least, to the public, once he mattered; now he is almost forgotten, reduced to anonymity. This is evident in the manner that I sometimes wonder if anyone else knows or even cares to know who the man behind the name Lhuvini-u Road is in Kohima. It is the road that begins from Martyr’s Park where the Kohima Town Hall is located right above. The Development Commissioner’s residence was once located there, I am told and Apau once resided there because he held that office. Perhaps that was a reason why the road was given Apau’s name. I do not know. Whatever the rationale may be, Apau’s memory and identity has simply faded out of our Naga society’s history.
“Like the ink on a piece of writing being washed away by a spilled glass of water. He was so easily forgotten.” We are so easily forgotten. But the important thing is that Apau, as well as each one of us, whether remembered by others or not, is remembered by God. And that’s what really matters. It is with this assurance, above all, that I hope we can lean on when we feel forgotten, disregarded, insignificant because human history may forget about him, as it has forgotten so many and will unfailingly forget so many more. But our names, Apau’s name, Lhuviniu Lungalang, is engraved on God’s hands, and written in the Book of Life, and again, as I remind you, I remind myself that not only is that the MOST important thing, it is the ONLY important thing.
