Pochury students conduct 57th general conference

Dimapur, Jan. 18: The 57th general conference of the Pochury Students’ Union (PSU) concluded on January 13 at Reguriunder Meluri sub-division of Phek district, stated to be the last village in the south-eastern Nagaland region bordering Myanmar. KG Kenye, member of the Rajya Sabha was the “valedictory guest,” a press release from the NPF informed on Wednesday. In his address, the MP said that the PSU “with its history of 57 years of existence” had become a “matured organisation.” He called upon the students to honour their pioneers and not to forget their “good deeds,” the press release quoted Kenye as having stated. “The pioneers, whether they have done good work or not, have run this organisation thus far and because of their efforts the PSU still exists. I came here to hunt human hearts. That is what I do wherever I go.” [caption id="attachment_94059" align="alignright" width="280"] KG Kenye addressing the 57th general conference of the PSU.[/caption] According to the press release, “once upon a time Chakhesang and Pochury were known as eastern Angamis.” However, it stated, way back in 1946, “as the largeness of the territory and as well as for administrative convenience,” leaders from the then eastern Angami areas “decided to form Chakhesang which is a conglomeration of three communities.” Further, the press release stated, due to geographical location, “leaders from the present Pochury area, which is now a separate tribe, decided to form a separate entity.” Further, the Member of Parliament said that the Chakhesang and Pochury communities have the same root and history. “This is a matter of evolution of human history and everyone has to accept it. And whatever ism may grip in it will be because of our ignorance. To know what is today, you must know what was yesterday,” the organizers quoted him as having stated. The Naga family is a big family, Kenye said, and called upon the students to think about how many Naga people were there in Myanmar ‘against their wishes.’ “Nagas are in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Nagas want to live under one administrative roof. Nagas want to bring all the people closer and integration have been our slogan till today. However, may be it is our destiny that we are living separately in different places as of today,” he lamented. Nonetheless, dialogue is going on between the government of India and a section of the Naga ‘political groups,’ he said, and wished the negotiating parties all the best. The MP expressed hope that ‘certain tangible result’ will emerge from the negotiations. Further, the MP warned that “our adversaries are hyper active.” He raised concern over the boundary fencing along the international boundary that divides India and Myanmar. “He reminded the students that history of division starts in 1953 where two prime ministers of young India and young Burma came to Kohima. These two towering leaders came, may be they wanted to ask the opinion of our people. However, on the pretext of the ‘host speak first then the guest speaks’ syndrome, the two towering leaders were not allowed to speak first,” the press release quoted KG Kenye quoted as having said. “When the condition was not allowed, tens of thousands vanished from the venue of the meeting within 10-15 minutes. The administrators of the day asking the people to stay back and listen the two leaders to no avail,” it stated. “The people refused to listen to them. The two leaders then had a meeting somewhere else and decided the boundary between themselves. He raised his concern that with the present erecting of boundary fencing, a lot of issues will come.” The press release elaborated further the speech of the MP. Kenye was said to have told the students that “the illiterate mass is supporting the movement of students for better future and asked to tame the young mind.” He warned that “in a land of strife torn,” they cannot remain casual. He cautioned the students that they will not remain students forever. “He recalled his days as a student who has attended such students’ conferences, stayed in the camps of temporary sheds, slept on the straws, sitting in the planks,” the press release stated. The MP called upon the students to be honest “reminding how the Britishers wrote about Nagas as a people of good character, virtues and honesty.” However, today those virtues are vanishing too fast from the Nagas within a span of 25-30 years. There are certain things money can buy but honesty is not purchasable,” he said in lament. He said that acquiring a new character was not easy. “Good situation and conditions are diminishing and asked them not to fall prey to those lies such as dishonesty,” the press release stated. “Personal traits and character matters. People are in search of integrity. If anyone is found unreliable he is changed. The world is moving on trust and integrity. Quoting the Bible, of first become last and last become first, the MP said that Pochury is coming up and encouraged the students to move towards a better tomorrow,” the statement explained.