Former DC Kohima encourages students to aspire for civil services

DIMAPUR — The North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) organised an inspirational talk on November 25 at the NEISSR cultural hall, Peace Centre in Chümoukedima, with Mohammed Ali Shihab, former Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, serving as the resource person.

According to a press release addressing the students of Master of Social Work (MSW) and Vedhik IAS Academy, Shihab stated that it is essential to motivate young students to aspire for UPSC and NPSC. He emphasised that every Naga tribe should encourage students to pursue careers as civil servants.

Shihab shared insights from his own life, including his initial posting in Dimapur as a young trainee and his over a decade of service in various districts of Nagaland, and highlighted the importance of Chümoukedima, as a newly established district, being recognised by the government as the ‘Land of Opportunity’.

He foresaw significant growth and prospects for its residents.

Encouraging the students, he stressed the significance of their educational choices and compared civil service aspirants and Master of Social Work students to converging rivers, suggesting their joint efforts could create a unified purpose and a delta where their hard work and sacrifices would flourish.

Acknowledging his own limitations, Shihab advised the students against believing that success is free from mistakes. He stressed that current actions influence future outcomes and warned against distractions and temptations that could disrupt their focus in life’s journey.

He quoted Robert Frost’s iconic lines, “I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference,” to encourage the students to pursue less common paths for a meaningful difference in life.

Shihab addressed the issue of educated but unemployed individuals in Nagaland, attributing their situation to attitude and decision-making. He encouraged the students to remain optimistic and focus on self-improvement, underscoring the importance of expanding knowledge in various fields.

He emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge, urging students to educate younger community members in their villages during the December holidays. He also highlighted the transformative impact of small actions and beliefs.

Earlier, Dr. Fr. CP Anto, principal of NEISSR, noted in his welcome address Shihab’s remarkable journey from an orphanage to Mussoorie. He expressed hope that Shihab’s experiences would positively influence the students, helping them grow into skilled social workers and responsible individuals.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Toli Kiba, assistant professor at NEISSR. It was moderated by James Quinker, president of NEISSR Student’s Council for Social Change.

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