Iralu urges citizens to rise to Nagaland’s rescue

Kohima, Dec. 28: Social activist Niketu Iralu on Wednesday implored Naga individuals to rise up and respond to the challenges that the Naga society had been facing.

Addressing the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Jakhama Students’ Union (JSU) at Campion School ground today, Iralu regretted that the present Naga society had too many divisions amongst her people.

“Let every individual know that he/she has a role to play in the effort to make our society a better place to live in. Let us put right what was wrong,” the social activist and pacifist urged.

The octogenarian went on to say that ‘we are all part of the problem.’ He insisted that the people should attend to the things they ought to, for they were responsible citizens of the society.

Iralu, who is a Trustee at New Delhi-based Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, was speaking on the theme “Envisioning a competitive future.” Reminding that the Naga society was still ‘very young’ compared to others, he made the gathering understand that the Naga people lack the experience in handling many of the problems that they are undergoing at the moment.

“Instead of solving problems, we tend to create more problems when trying to solve our existing problems,” said Iralu. The Naga community needs to be more resilient in their approach while handling problems, he said.

“How do we respond to the higher challenges of the changing future which we cannot ignore,” he queried, adding that the Naga people need ‘internal development’ if they were to move forward.

Further, Iralu reminded the student community on the many problems the Nagas had been undergoing. To this, he urged the students to take the responsibility to lead the Nagas towards realizing a better future.

“There is a common Naga tree which is about to die. Lest we fail on our part to care for it, our society can jut go down to the dark hole,” Iralu cautioned. He encouraged the younger generation: your time to be the role model of our society has come. “Each Naga must decide to be a role model in the effort towards making our society a better future,” he said.

The 50th anniversary celebrations commenced Tuesday evening with Koko Vizotha, managing director of Fernwood Higher Secondary School, addressing the event as the inaugural speaker.

Khupi Natso, engineer-in-chief of the Nagaland Public Works Department of Kohima, will be the speaker for the closing session of the event, scheduled this evening.

Earlier in the programme, Niketu Iralu unveiled a monolith marking the JSU’s 50th anniversary. It was dedicated by Tepusaho Tase, senior pastor of Minister’s Hill Baptist Church of Kohima town.

On the day, Visano Zhotso was also presented with the ‘Best matriculate award’ from among the 2016 batch of the JSU.