God’s been ‘so merciful to Tenyimi family’, says Kiyaneilie

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 28

Tenyidie, the common language of the Tenyimi people, holds the record of being the first Naga language to be introduced in the Nagaland University in 1997. After 17 years, the Tenyidie department has again scripted history by producing two Ph.D scholars this year, the first among any of the Naga vernaculars.It was a matter of joy for the Ura Academy and the Tenyidie department as a whole when Khrüvolü Keyho and Neiphrezonuo Mepfhüo achieved the feat of becoming the first Ph.D scholars in Tenyidie department under Nagaland University this year. This was announced today during the inaugural function of the two-day 45th Tenyidie annual seminar-cum-platinum jubilee postlude celebration of the Ura Academy at Kohima.
Though, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, the president of Ura Academy and Dr D Kuolie, professor in Tenyidie department, have earned doctorate degrees earlier, it may be mentioned that the former was conferred an honourary doctorate degree, while the latter earned his doctorate degree in linguistics.
Speaking at the inaugural function as the chief guest, Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Minister of Social Security and Welfare, lauded the Ura Academy for coming this far. He urged the academy to keep on attempting higher, while it continues to be a centre of learning for the Tenyidie literature.
“While you continue to promote Tenyidie language, the Ura academy is also serving as a platform where unity and oneness is being promoted among the Tenyimi people,” Peseyie said.
He emphasized on the importance of preserving Naga culture, and therefore urged the Tenyimi people to lead from the front. Stating that peace and unity is a requisite for any progress and development, he also called upon the Tenyimi family to love and respect one another, adding that God has been so merciful to the Tenyimi family.
The inaugural function was also graced by the Chakhesang Public Organization as special guests. In his address, CPO president Sovenyi Nyekha stressed on the importance of respecting and valuing our Naga culture.
“Our culture is the basis of our identity. Therefore, we should not forget who we are while venturing to embrace the good cultures of others. If we don’t value ourselves and our culture, why should others respect us or our culture,” he reasoned adding that imitating cultures is not new to Nagas.
“We have been busy learning and glorifying the language of others, but have we tried to understand and promote our language to others,” he questioned.
“If we really look into our culture, it has all the right values to turn us into a society of most civilized people. Our ancestors believed that nothing good comes easy. So they never compromised with hard work and honesty, two important virtues which are the foundational pillars of any good system. Today, we have forgotten these basic values and looking for unmerited value system which promote easy life, easy money, easy culture, etc,” he remarked.“If we have really been trying to learn from our culture, from our ancestors, then much of the problems which are eating up our society today would not even have become part of our lives in the first place,” Nyekha added.
The CPO president underlined the need to have wisdom to discern the right cultures, wisdom to build and not to ruin, wisdom to unite and not to divide and wisdom to promote harmony and peace.
Speaking to a host of Tenyimi leaders and elders, he further said “Tenyimi is not just an interest group. We are brothers and sisters and the bond we share is not something we can disown whether we like it or not.”
“We cannot be indifferent to one another. In building up one another, we will not only strengthen our Tenyimi bonding, but also redefine our understanding of its meanings and implications,” he said.
The inaugural function was followed by cultural exhibitions where all tribes under Tenyimi community participated.
The inaugural function was also attended by Minister Neikiesalie Kire, Minister Yitachu, Parliamentary Secretary Levi Rengma, MLA Neiphrezo Keditsu and president NPF and Ura Academy Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu among others.
The two-day seminar will also be graced by the Zeliang People’s Organisation and Rengma Hoho as special guests for respective functions.