Monument of five pioneers unveiled at Changki village

Our Correspondent
CHANGKI, JANUARY 7

A monument which has been erected in memory of five outstanding pioneers from Changki Süngdakba was unveiled on Wednesday at Changki village under Mangkolemba sub-division with K. Tiayanger Tzüdir, Director, Treasuries and Accounts as the chief guest.
The five personalities are late Tzüdiong, the first convert to Christianity among Changki villagers; late Rev. Longri Ao, God’s humble servant and “Man of Peace” with a vision, who coined the word ‘Nagaland’ as the nomenclature of the present state; late Süngtikemba Tzudiri, a calligraphist, a teacher and a music composer; late Emtionen Amri, a pioneer agriculturist, who is credited for massive bamboo plantation in Changki area making it the most bamboo-rich area in Nagaland today; late Chubawati, an educationist who was the first martriculate and graduate from the village. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Tiayanger Tzüdir remarked that “Changki today is reaping the fruit of all the sacrifices made by the pioneers, but what holds more importance is the lessons to be learned from the constructed monument.”
“Humanity does not know the reasons behind the construction of the pyramids, but we know today why this humble monument is constructed and therefore, the younger generation needs to draw inspiration from the lives of these great persons,” he said.
Further, Tzüdir opined that unity and love is more important than fame and glory and therefore encouraged the youngsters to make selfless sacrifices and to be bold enough to take bigger steps and leaps.
A minute of silence for the departed souls was also observed during the programme.
The monument of the five leaders was dedicated by Allen Amri, Associate Pastor, while short speeches were delivered by Teka longchari, president, Changki Süngdakba Senso Mungdang (CSSM), Alemyanger, Imlimeren and the chairman, Village Council Changki.

Changki reflects on unity, reconstruction

Our Correspondent
CHANGKI, JANUARY 7

The third general conference of the Changki Students’ Union and Sports Meet commenced at Orija Salang in Changki village. The inauguration was marked by much pomp and gaiety.
Bendang Longchari, IAS, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, was the chief guest of the event. Around 1,000 enthusiastic student delegates from all over the state are currently camping in Changki for the same conference which will conclude on January 9.
Addressing the inaugural event, Bendang Longchari urged the students to know their origin and roots because, “only in knowing and loving one’s own roots, will one find his/her own true identity and come to embrace it as is the theme for the meet”.
He expressed much pain by the damage done to the society by the culture of one-upmanship, and urged the delegates to dedicate their lives to rebuilding and to unity that once existed in the community.
The official also acknowledged that a single village which already has produced two chief secretaries of the state as well as numerous other luminaries still had the potential to produce many more. However he said, to achieve such heights there is need for talent, nourishment, introspection and unity. They are the need of the hour, he said.
“Destiny don’t come to us. Destiny is what we make of our lives,” he said, and challenged the young to cement “our relationship among ourselves and to walk and talk as one.”
Among a host of important personalities, Editor of the Morung Express Dr. Akum Longchari, founder of HAWA Susan Waten, Director of Treasuries and Accounts K Tiayanger Tzudir, Samuel Changkija, IFS, and Dr. Jamedi Longkumer, among others were also present at the opening event.
The first session of the event concluded with a panel discussion on the theme of the conference “Embracing Changki.”