Students get JMF award for excellence in Ao literature

MOKOKCHUNG — A total of 19 students were conferred Jemtimenba Mollier Foundation (JMF) Meritorious Award for Excellence in Ao Literature held at Ao Senden conference hall in Mokokchung town on Tuesday. The award recipients were honoured with cash prizes and certificates.

Under Nagaland Board of School Education‘s examination (2020-2023), thirteen students were awarded for scoring the highest marks in Ao language. They are Toshisangla of Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur (Class X 2020); Sungjemnenla from Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School (Class XII 2020); Atula W Mongro from Nagaland Christian Residential School, Mokokchung (Class X 2021); Imsuwaden from Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur (Class XII 2023); Moakala Longchari from Children School, Mokokchung (Class X 2022); Aosenla from Mount Moriah School Ungma (Class X 2022); Temsuyanger from Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur,  Lanukokla from Town Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung, and Moatila from Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur (Class X 2022); Alempongla Longchar from Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung (Class XII 2022); and Zuluienla T Jamir from Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung and Lensen Ozüküm from Clark Memorial Higher Secondary School, Impur (Class X 2023); and Nungtetmenla Jamir from Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung (Class XII 2023).

The foundation also awarded to the first position holders in the Ao Arangtet Tatidang (Ao literature examination conducted by the Ao Riju under the aegis of the Ao Senden. The recipients were Kajenmenla Jamir, Arangtet Diploma Tenren (ADT 2021); Putusen, Arangtet Certificate Tenren (ACT 2021); Rongsenlemla Pongen, Arangtet Diploma Tenren (ADT 2022); Alisenla, Arangtet Diploma Tenren (ADT 2023); Tzuwazenla Jamir, Post Graduate Diploma Tenren (PGDT 2022); and Akumyanger, Post Graduate Diploma Tenren (PGDT 2023). They were awarded cash prizes and certificates.

The district education officer (DEO), Sentinenla, who was also the guest of honour, has appreciated the foundation for working toward the promotion of Ao literature and stated that one’s identity could only be preserved through its mother tongue.

Referring to Ao residents in Kohima and Dimapur, where families often speak in Nagamese or other foreign languages rather than the Ao’s Chungli or Mongsen dialect, the DEO shared worries as to how the trend of speaking other foreign languages would hinder in preserving one’s identity and eventually cause a downfall. She urged everyone to consider the Ao mother tongue as a precious commodity and promote on priority.

I Temjen Tzudir, JMF secretary, said that the Jemtimenba Mollier Foundation (earlier Jemtimenba Mollier Trust) was founded in the year 2014 primarily to promote the Ao literature.

He stated that the JMF has been conducting different programmes like training, seminar, essay writing and quiz competition, spell bee, symposium etc., since its inception. He further informed that Ao literature as a subject would be taken up at Clark Theological College under the aegis of Ao Senden starting from the next academic session.

Dr. Tali Imsong, JMF chairman in his welcome address, stated that Ao’s distinctiveness lies in the use of its mother tongues namely Chungli and Mongsen.

Also read: Evangelical Union holds consecration and orientation at LFIC