Former Nagaland chief secretary and advisor to the chief minister, Lalthara, IAS (middle) releasing the souvenir of St. Stephen’s Higher Secondary School during the silver jubilee celebration of the school on Tuesday. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur, February 4: St. Stephen’s Higher Secondary School (SSHSS) celebrated its silver jubilee on February 4 here at the school premises with former Nagaland chief secretary and advisor to the chief minister, Lalthara, IAS, as chief guest.
Lalthara who also inaugurated the school 25 years ago when he was secretary of Food & Civil Supplies, in his address said that in the present global and competitive era, there is little space for mediocrity. Stating that success cannot be achieved overnight, the retire bureaucrat said that one has to strive and labour hard in order to succeed in one’s career or life.
Quoting the adage “Where there is a will there is a way”, the retire bureaucrat narrated his own humble beginning as a student who had to work as a peon in the school he was studying in order to pay for his education and stay. Lalthara said during the height of insurgency in Mizoram in the mid 1960’s, many schools and homes were burnt down. “Our house was also burnt down and there was doubt whether we could carry on with our schooling,” he said. He however said that against all odds, he went to Aizawl to continue his studies. He also disclosed that he while was a class VII student, he had told his teacher that his aim in life was to become an IAS officer. Ten years later in 1973, Lalthara appeared and cleared the IAS examination in the first attempt and fulfilled his promise. Citing his own life example, he reminded the students of another adage “When the going gets tough the tough gets going.”
The advisor to the chief minister however said that success is meaningless without a sound moral foundation or value system. Lalthara said many successful and famous people have wasted their lives because they do not have the moral foundation. He exhorted the students that a successful person should be a “light to the world” and serve humanity. On the occasion, the chief guest also released the school souvenir and hymn book.
Founder director and principal of SSHSS, Dr. R Francis, delivered the welcome address and presented a report on the school’s achievements. Alumni of the school including Er. Hekavi Ayemi and Dr. Azidi Zeliang also exhorted the students. Special numbers were presented by ITCS choir and the school’s jubilee choir.
