Dimapur Government College, 50 years and counting

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 3 : Of a journey that was first set in motion in the tumultuous ’60s, Dimapur Government College – the oldest college in Dimapur – observed its golden jubilee celebration here at the college auditorium on Thursday. Its history traces to barely three years after Nagaland was declared a state under the Indian Union, when some citizens of Dimapur came together to establish a college at Dimapur on July 25, 1966. Called as Dimapur College then, it enrolled 85 Arts students in the first year. Fifty years since, the college today has enrolled 874 students (as per its website) – more than tenfold its corresponding number of 1966. Today, the Dimapur Government College qualifies as an institution in every sense of the word – not just academically but socially, and even politically as well. The reconfiguration of the institute has been a long process. It was first established as a private college at where the present Public College of Commerce stands. And it remained as a private undertaking until February 1, 1989 – that was when the Nagaland government took ownership of the college and eventually renamed as Dimapur Government College. It was affiliated to the Nagaland University in 1994. Prior to it, the college was under Guahati University and North-Eastern Hill University. It was relocated to its present sprawling 43-acre plot in the late ’80s – though much of it remains unused. The golden anniversary on Thursday was celebrated with chief minister TR Zeliang as the chief guest. “One unfortunate trend that we see in Nagaland today is the disregard for public property, whether land, building or road etc,” he reflected in his address. This, according to Zeliang, was one of the reasons behind encroachment of government lands by public. “I am aware how the college land had often been encroached by some people in the past, and how the college authorities and students’ union had successfully thwarted such attempts to encroach the college lands.” We should consider such action as a leading example which should be copied by other institutions and civil societies as well, the chief minister said. He also stressed that education should involve equipping students with the right skills for employment. “Statistically, it sounds very beautiful that we have a high literacy rate, that we have a very high rate of matriculates, graduates and post-graduates. However, we need to develop work culture besides book knowledge,” Zeliang said. On behalf of the college alumni, Secretary, Land Resources, Y Kikheto Sema said they should give credit to the teachers for what they are today. Stating that jubilee was a time to acknowledge the pioneers, Kikheto said that it was also a time to see the balance sheet of the assets and liabilities created by the college. Humour and clean elections Our elected representatives, by virtue of their position in the power hierarchy, are always front-row audiences at any show/event. But it is safe to assume that it is not every day that they are front-row witnesses to their election trickeries being acted out on stage. Thursday was one such occasion when our elected representatives led by the chief minister and the home minister were treated to an uncensored view of an all-too-familiar election scenario – all thanks to those abundantly gifted theatre artistes from the group Dreamz Unlimited. The act was a short play on clean elections, featuring four actors. It revolved around two guys from a village seeking employment from a minister whom they had supported during the elections. One wanted an LDA post while the other was content with a work-charge kam. Punctuated with ample humour (and rousing rounds of laughter), play was a biting critique on our electioneering system. At first both the minister and his secretary refuses to acknowledge acquaintance with the two villagers. Then it comes to unravel that the minister had paid them the highest during the elections. Sound-tracked by appropriate background music, the entire play unravels in humour even though the message was, undoubtedly, sobering. But at least the chief minister took it in god humour. After watching the play, Zeliang jested that he will be hiring the actors during the next elections. If only to dissuade the people from asking for money in exchange of votes!