Mokokchung Lotha Students’ Union celebrates golden jubilee

MOKOKCHUNG — The Mokokchung Lotha Students’ Union (MLSU) celebrated its golden jubilee (1975–2025) on the theme ‘Golden past, intelligent future’ at Mokokchung town hall on November 7.

The event also coincided with the observance of the Lotha festival Tokhu Emong.

Elias T Lotha, Transport Commissioner of the Government of Nagaland, was the guest of honour, while Peter Libenthung, Principal of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Tuensang, delivered the keynote address as guest speaker.

In his address, the transport commissioner urged the youth to become “voices for the voiceless,” emphasising that knowledge should empower the suppressed, threatened, or oppressed.

He called on students to embrace their responsibilities, pursue purposeful learning, and apply it to real-world challenges for societal betterment.

Lotha highlighted the longstanding bonds between the Ao and Lotha communities, pledging collaboration with students and organisations to advance Naga society. He stressed the need for moral and spiritual foundations in building a humane world, quoting the Bible: “God created human beings in His image; therefore, we all have the Holy Spirit in us. We should not harm others but respect one another.”

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He warned against social divisions and divisive “isms,” advocating for differences to foster unity and progress. Noting the growing trend of inter-tribal marriages among Aos, Lothas, and other Naga groups, Lotha viewed it as a positive evolution.

“Only through unity and mutual respect can we build a society that is both strong and inclusive,” he affirmed.

In his address, guest speaker Libenthung encouraged students to stay rooted in their identity amid a fast-changing world. He described the 21st century as an era of self-management, distinct from the 20th century’s focus on business management. “We must cultivate flexibility, resilience, and self-awareness,” he said, adding that understanding oneself and others turns adversity into progress.

Libenthung underscored cultural preservation, calling language and heritage a community’s true wealth. Referencing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which lists 197 languages as endangered, he urged students to learn, speak, and write their mother tongues to pass them on. “Progress demands action, not just words—grounded in roots and values,” he noted.

He advocated for “self-intelligence,” encompassing emotional awareness, empathy, and adaptability. “True growth comes from competing with oneself, not others,” Libenthung remarked. Addressing 21st-century demands, he highlighted creativity, ethical awareness, open-mindedness, and embracing change. While acknowledging AI’s rise, he reminded the audience that human vision, morality, and self-awareness remain irreplaceable. He concluded by calling for positive attitudes, life skills, and courage to face challenges purposefully.

Lanutoshi Aier, president of the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) declared that “the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” He positioned today’s youth as bridges between a golden past and an intelligent future, tasked with blending ancestral wisdom with modern innovation.

He described ideal youth as “dreamers with discipline, thinkers with ethics, and leaders with empathy.” Education, he added, should enlighten as much as it enables- standing for truth amid misinformation, respecting culture while embracing global progress, and innovating purposefully.

“Machines and smartphones can be intelligent, but only humans can be wise,” Aier noted, tying wisdom to the values that gilded the past. As society advances, he called for responsible, courageous leadership that harnesses technology for peace and purpose. “The future is not something handed down to us; it is something we create,” he concluded.

MLSU president Y Khyobenthung Tsanglao unveiled the jubilee educational support endowment, a scholarship fund for economically disadvantaged students. The initiative will be sustained through alumni and supporter donations, providing ongoing aid to meritorious recipients.

The Lotha community in Mokokchung comprises over 130 households and 142 students, with MLSU representing members at institutions such as Fazl Ali College (FAC), Clark Theological College (CTC), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICIT), and various schools.

Exhortations were delivered by C Nribemo Ngullie, MLSU’s first president (1975); Yanthungo M Kikon, chairman of the Mokokchung Lotha Hoho; and a representative from the Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha.