Dimapur, October 8 : In the year 1991 the Yimchungrü Students Union Dimapur (YSUD) began with just a few members and very little funds, it managed to cross many trying times with responsibilities for a better tomorrow. And on October 8, 2016 the community celebrated 25 years of YSUD’s existence.
With the completion of 25 years, the community believes they have crossed the next crucial level to see that their basic rights are not infringed upon either by law makers or due to their own complacency.
Obed former YUD President, he noted that the Yimchungrü community is faced with many difficulties, “we have health care units but no doctors’, we have roads which are not motorable, we have government but no good governance, we aspire for a separate district but we only depend on political masters” stated Obed.
Today’s celebration is the manifestation of the toils and hardships faced over a period of 25 years by past and present leaders of the community and, is a declaration that the community has come of age.
The chief guest, Neiphiu Rio, Lok Sabha MP and former Chief Minister, addressing the congregation stated that education and Christianity have transformed Naga society however our society is still young and is known as a backward state as compared to other states in the country. The Yimchungrü Students Union Dimapur (YSUD) silver jubilee celebration on Saturday October 8 at Yimchungrü Baptist Church Dimapur was observed under the theme “celebrating an honour”.
Acknowledging that though education may have reached late for Yimchungrü area, the community is progressing and an occasion such as the Silver jubilee of a students’ organisation teaches us to retrospect on how to face challenges and succeed.
Emphasising the role of education Rio stated that there is no end to education; he added that education is all about knowledge which becomes part of our life, which can change society and even the nation.
With the world getting more competitive and the benchmark based on merit, he conveyed that team spirit, which includes Parents, Teachers, and Students, is crucial for a system to progress and if even one component fails, the system will collapse.
The lone LS MP from the state acknowledged that Nagas are timid in nature because we opt only for safe options and rather we need to focus more on extracurricular activities which can open further opportunities.
Rio conveyed that if we continue to quarrel and fight, we will only tarnish the image of the state and send a wrong message to others. With civilisation, education and Christianity present in Nagaland, he stated that it was time for Nagas to think seriously on how to live in harmony, when to fight, when to have peace and when to unite.
The celebration was observed at the community church which was highly lauded by the MP. He remarked that such practice is rare in the state where most of such celebrations are observed out of the Churches. He partly blamed the Churches for not encouraging such practices and said this can set a trend for others to follow suit.
Toshi Wungtung, Advisor and negotiating member, Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) graced the celebration as the guest of honour. Wungtung remarked that education should be enlightening and both should complement each other without which a person is equal to being illiterate.
Stating that education is a tool for social change, he called upon the student community to imbibe discipline, sincerity and devotion to inculcate the habit of reading and writing. Pointing out that the habit of reading and writing was limited among the community Wungtung encouraged them to be enlightened with these two habits and not become a slave of gadgets.
