Nagaland University Silver Jubilee: ‘Time to wake up from deep slumber’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 6 (EMN): The Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 6 with its alumni and MLA Imtiwapang Aier as the special guest.

Faculty members, students, alumni and scores of non-teaching staff attended the silver jubilee celebration which was held at Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema on Friday.

Prof. GT Thong stressed on the need to revisit the objectives of the Nagaland University (NU) in his welcome address. He said NU was established to disseminate knowledge, promote innovations and improve the socio-economic conditions and welfare of the people of Nagaland.

“We have travelled a quarter of a century down the road since the objectives of the University were framed by the visionaries,” said Thong.

He maintained that ‘it has been a bumpy ride for the University but fortunately, it has survived’ and urged the gathering to introspect and take stock of the present situation. He also questioned the progress of the university; and if the society has benefited from it.

“To move on at the same lethargic pace would be damning Nagaland University to mediocrity forever and destroying Naga Society from the core,” added the professor.

To catch up the rest of the world, he asserted it’s time to wake up from deep slumber and do away with the laid-back attitude. “We have to give back to the society what it has given to us,” he said.

He insisted on research, quality of academic output, administrative and other support to improve considerably in order to make the products attractive in the job market and contribute to positive growth. This ultimately translates into a whole new system of working like a well-oiled machine – each component supporting the other, he said.

Thong informed that the University entered the silver jubilee year on September 6 2018, and that the year-long celebrations involved many academic and other activities.

Prof. Bruno Liegise gave a detailed account of the origin and history of NU; Dzüvingunuo Dorothy Chasie recited her poem, “My Rugged University,” while Nagaland University Students’ Union (NUSU) presented a song.

Special guest Imtiwapang Aier hoisted the university flag earlier during the celebration.

Brief history of NU:
• The president of India gave his consent on October 20, 1989 to establish the Nagaland University which was then enacted by the Parliament.
• The foundation stone of the university was however laid earlier at Lumami by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on November 5, 1987.
• 25 years ago on September 6 1994, the first Vice Chancellor for the 13th Central University of India was appointed.
• Prior to its establishment, NU was part of NEHU; departments were established in Kohima and Medziphema (School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development), which were campuses of NEHU.
• Today, NU has three permanent campuses at Lumami, Kohima in Meriema; Medziphema; and a temporary campus in Dimapur.
• There are 41 departments and seven centres offering undergraduate, post graduate and Ph.D programmes in Arts, Commerce, Management, Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Engineering & Technology, besides diploma and certificate courses.
• NU has 65 affiliated colleges.
• The School of Engineering and Technology was established on October 29 2007 at Dimapur.
• Till date, NU has awarded 562 B.Tech, 8740 post graduate, 40 M.Phil and 386 Ph.D degrees, besides numerous B.Sc. (Agri. Hons) degrees.
• The faculty has generated about INR 150 crore till date from research projects and other development schemes for the university.