Tsüngremmong festival of the Aos,celebrated from August 1-3 was observed for the second day at Diphupar local ground organized by Ao Kaketshir Telongjem Diphupar (AKTD) and Ao Youth Forum Diphupar (AYFD) on Tuesday with Dr. S.CJamir, former Governor Maharastra and Goa and veteran Naga politician as chief guest.
In his speech, Dr Jamir reminded the gathering about the sacrifices made by the Ao community for the Nagas in the past.
Jamir said Aos were blessed by God through the American missionaries, who planted the seed of Christianity and education. He said the American missionaries chose Impur to educate the Naga people and through which the Aos were the first tribe to spread education and Christianity.
Jamir also pointed out T.Aliba Imti of Longjang village became the first temporary chairman when the NNC was formed in 1946 at Wokha, to lead the Naga struggle for independence.
He said amid the horrors of famine,starvation and miseries suffered during the Naga independence movement, the Naga People’s Convention(NPC)was formed to rescue the people from their plight with Dr Imkongliba Ao as its first president.
When Nagaland was formed after an agreement signed between the NPC and the government of India,the first chief minister of Nagaland was P.Shilu Ao from Longjang.
Dr. Jamir said one of the special traits characterized the Ao tribe was “concern and care ” for others and a commitment to peace and development.
Jamir said during his tenure as the chief minister of the state, he had a concern for the other sixteen tribes, in line with “his roots as an Ao” to show concern to others.
He urged people to give a thought on the state of the Nagas during the past nine years. “What is the situation now of the Nagas at present?Whether there is integration or disintegration?” he asked. He also asked whether disunity was a sign of strength or division; and whether “a blind society is good for the state?.”
Dr. Jamir also lamented that one of the problems faced by the Naga society was bribery, which has become “an honor” nowadays with a government that uses money to buy everything.
He said opined that corruption in the government was rampant mainly in the police and the education departments.
He rued that Naga society today was rife with robberies, killings, lies and where the people could not voice out the truth. He urged Aos to speak up on what is right and also try to uplift not only the Ao community but also the Naga society as a whole, with the “torch that God has given them”.
He also cautioned the younger generation in particular of the Aos, that if they blindly aped the western culture then a time would come when the Ao dialect would be lost.
Dr. Jamir further called upon the Ao community to prove themselves as leaders.
Earlier in the program, various cultural songs and dances were performed by Aoyimti Kaketshir Telongjem, Ao Kaketshir telongjem Pudumpukhuri, Ao Kaketshir Telongjem Diphupar & Ao Youth Forum Dimapur and Ao Senso Telongjem Diphupar. Significance of the Tsüngremmong festival was delivered by K.Temjen Jamir, editor Tir Yim Yim.
Dignitaries who also attended the function included I.Imkong MLA, Retd. DGP N.N Walling, Prof. Yungdang, Padumpukhuri, Aoyimti, Dmp. Ao Students’, Diphupar NSU. Diphupar Village Council, Ao Union, Watsu. Diphupar youth organization, Arogo.
For More Updates, follow us on
and
