The Kohima Ao Students Union (Ao Kaketshir Telongjem Kohima) Students Day-cum-General Meeting was observed on the 2nd October 2021 at Molu Ki, Paramedical Colony Kohima.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Sharingain Longkumer highlighted that the Union was founded in the year 1960 with the founders taking many hardships to achieve the transformation and progression of the Union in the last 60 years, and called upon the students that they should now aim for bigger and higher achievements. He also urged everyone to be sincere, discipline, and be good ambassador for the Ao community.
Longkumer said that looking back the past 60 years, the union has undergone from using of the typewriters to computers and now to mobile phones, ‘the eyes to the world’, which tells us about progress, achievements and the constant change and to adapt with this change and progress we need to be inspired, discipline and sincere he said. He also said that Mokokchung district has the highest literacy in the state but literacy is not translated as an educated person since education is an ongoing process and what one achieve today is just equipping with a certificate but yearning for education must continue, therefore he encouraged them that education being the main priority for a student, may face many failures and temptations but urged them to always remember that ‘the main thing in life, is to keep the main thing, the main thing’ and what they decided to choose as one’s profession should be their passionate decision and not what their parents wish for he added.
Sharingain also encouraged the student to have bigger target to serve not only in the state level but in the national level too as he could see potentialities, hope and talents amongst the students and said that what decision they takes, should be pragmatic. He called upon them that when they are competing with others to achieve one’s goal, one should also strive for getting emotional matured and financial independence early, so as to become a self-made person to take up decisions, have dignity of labour and earn in the right way. He also urged all to preserve one’s culture and heritage, giving due importance and to being proud of one’s cultural identity.
Treasurer, Ao Kaketshir Telongjem Kohima, Wati. L. Imchen in his speech, called upon the students to give importance to one cultural identity by giving due importance to one mother tongue and also encourages them to undertake cultural tours where they can visit ancestorial villages and place and learn more about one’s culture, histories, administrations, stories, songs etc and encouraged them that they should take up practical works. He urged the gathering to preserve wild life and forest and restrain from hunting wild animals and birds since all wild life in the state are now disappearing which is breaking the ecological balance of wildlife and forest.
Sharingain Longkumer gave away certificate of merit to 11students of HSLC and HSSLC who have achieved top 20 positions in the HSLC and HSSLC examinations conducted for the years 2020 and 2021.
The welcome address was proposed by President AKTK, Imodangba Imchen and the vote of thanks by Vice-President, Kumtenzukba Jamir while the programme was chaired by Kilangsungla Pongen. A short play on the importance of Mother Tongue was also showcased by the Mongsenyimti Students Union, Kohima.
The new office bearers for the years 2021-2023 are President, Akumyanger, Vice-President, Takusunep Imchen, General Secretary, Meyipong Kichu, Asst. General Secretary, Tianungla Longchar and Treasurer, Er. L. Senti Jamir.
(Maongtemjen, IA)