The ‘Senden Riju,’ envisioned as a centre for unity and revival for the Ao Naga community and located at Purana Bazaar, near ISBT Dimapur, was officially inaugurated July 12. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 12
‘Senden Riju’, a new community building constructed by the Ao Senso Telungjem Dimapur (ASTD), was formally inaugurated here on Saturday. Envisioned as a centre for unity and revival for the Ao Naga community, the building is located at Purana Bazaar, near ISBT Dimapur.
Former Minister S I Jamir, who donated land for the building along with late legislator I Nüngshizenba Longkumer, earlier inaugurated the souvenir monolith for Senden Riju. Jamir said the decision to donate the land arose from the absence of suitable communal spaces for deliberation and gatherings. He urged the community to make purposeful use of the facility.
Rural Development Minister Metsübo Jamir inaugurated the facility. Speaking on the occasion, he congratulated ASTD and the broader community while reminding them of the responsibility the building entails. He emphasised that the Riju is not only for Aos in Dimapur but belongs to all.
“This is like a second Chungliyimti. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly,” he said, considered the ancestral village of the Ao Nagas, while cautioning against internal divisions.
Advisor Moatoshi Longkumer, described the occasion as a day of celebration stating that the newly inaugurated building could serve as a foundation for Ao culture and civilisation.
“A meeting place like this is the hearth of the Ao Naga way of life,” Longkumer said, calling on community members to make proper use of the building and to introspect on the current state of the community.
He expressed concern that the community had moved from being pioneers to “followers or backsliders,” attributing it to complacency and jealousy. Longkumer advocated for the formation of a dedicated committee to work for the community’s upliftment.
DAYO President Tiatemsü Longchar highlighted the spirit of unity and collaboration that contributed to the project’s completion, describing Senden Riju as a symbolic “second Chungliyimti” and a potential cradle for cultural and intellectual revival among the Aos.
Limatangit Lemtur, Convenor of the Construction Committee of the Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (DAYO), noted that the foundation stone for Senden Riju was first laid on May 2, 1995. DAYO was formally entrusted with construction responsibilities in 2014.
The project was funded through a raffle draw, a fundraising concert, and a one-day wage contribution drive among community members.
As per the audit report presented at the event, the total collection for the project stood at around Rs 1.95 crore, with Rs 1.83 crore spent on construction. The programme concluded with a community feast.
Calls for integrity, work ethics, and community values
Sharing the future vision for Senden Riju, ASTD Monetisation Committee Convenor Mongküm Jamir said the building is not just a community hall but a call to transform the collective mindset of the community.
He maintained that the building represented a move away from dependence on charity and freebies, emphasising that it should serve as a foundation for a renewed value system based on giving, responsibility, and ownership.
The Convenor outlined four core values essential for the community’s revival: repentance through humility led by elders, integrity and transparency in governance and everyday life, environmental consciousness, and a strong work ethic.
“Only integrity and transparency can ensure a healthy and trustworthy community. Without it, future generations will have little to build upon,” he said.
He urged the community to adopt a strong work ethic and warned against reliance on handouts, stating, “As long as we remain dependent, we will not grow.”
Framing these values as a moral compass, the Convenor expressed hope that Senden Riju would act as a catalyst for cultural and social transformation- a space defined not by what people can take but by what they can contribute.
