Nagaland
Ao church hosts discourse on learning traditions
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 8: Ao community group the Diphupar Ao Senso Telongjem conducted a discourse concerning the various cultural ethos of the community, on October 8 at the Diphupar Ao Baptist Church in Dimapur.
The topic of the discourse was ‘Sobaliba Shisatokden,’ Ao Naga for knowledge-sharing contextualising cultural ethos.
‘Soba’ means ‘being born’ while ‘Liba’ means ‘bringing in to life.’ ‘Shisatokden’ means discussing and sharing knowledge.
Speaking at the occasion was advocate Supu Jamir. He spoke about the ‘Arju Tsungi,’ a traditional learning centre for men from the community. He said it was like a defence academy and university.
According to Jamir, there was no discrimination and everyone was treated equally and that only the truth was spoken in the institution. After the 2nd World War, and with the introduction of Christianity, the learning center gradually disappeared, he said.
The community should return to the culture of the ‘Arju’ where only the truth is spoken, he said.
Another speaker was associate prof. Narola Walling. She talked about ‘Tsuki Tsungi,’ the community’s traditional learning centre for women.