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www.morungexpress.com
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 319
The Morung Express
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www.morungexpress.com
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reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 12+4 pages Rs. 4
Nagaland taking positive lead in Amur Falcon conservation
Cops foil gangster’s plan to kill Mahesh Bhatt, 13 held
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Europeans have major role in beheading video [ PAGE 09]
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Haflong | November 18
NEw DElhI, NOVEMBER 18 (REUTERS): India has quarantined a man who was cured of Ebola in Liberia but continued to show traces of the virus in samples of his semen after arriving in the country, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement that the Indian national tested negative for Ebola in tests conforming to World Heath Organisation guidelines but was quarantined when he arrived at New Delhi airport as a precautionary measure. Later, tests of his semen detected traces of the virus.
AI to operate additional flight DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 18 (MExN): The Station Manager for Air India Dimapur today informed that Air India has started an operation of flight on Mondays with effect from November 17 to February 15, 2015 for the sector Kolkata-Dimapur-Kolkata (direct flight). The flight to be operated is an Airbus under the following timings: Departure: Kolkata – 09:50hrs; Arrival: Dimapur – 11:10hrs and Departure: Dimapur – 11:45hrs; Arrival: Kolkata – 13:05hrs.
The Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Haflong, Dima Hasao district, Assam, was established in 1994 by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Students of the school assemble every morning to chant Sanskrit verses. It is called the ‘Bharat Mata Vandana,’ informs Principal of the school, BB Dey— then followed by the Indian national anthem—an allegiance to Bharat reiterated daily. With 475 students enrolled currently, the school seeks to give “proper education with Hindu sanskar (ethos).” The Hejaichak Hindu School is a ‘feeder school’ to the institution. Both house a number of Zeme Naga students. Enter ‘education’ For a long time, the Zeme Naga villages in Assam did not allow English, Hindi or any other language to be spoken
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(L) Students of the Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Haflong, Assam, are seen praying at the morning assembly; (R ) Ramkuiwangbe Zeme. (Morung Photos)
within. When the British tried to set up a school in Ndunglo village in 1946, for instance, the village resisted—dekachangs and dekichangs, or morungs, were preferred for parting of education. “It was believed that this would spoil our culture, so many people never went to school,” says Ramkuiwangbe Zeme (68), President of the Zeliangrong Heraka Association (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), constituted by Rani
Gaidinliu in 1974 in Kohima. He is also the President of the VHP’s Dakshin Purva Pranth (South East Zone) of the North East of India. “When the government and Christian missionaries set up schools in these areas, the dekachangs were abandoned,” says Ramkuiwangbe. With them, the education of indigenous agriculture, defense, music, dance etc. was also abandoned. Many villages in the “most backward areas” of Dima Hasao looked at the
new schools as “foreign.” He narrates the story of Semkhor, a non-Zeme village, where it was believed that anyone leaving the village would attract a curse. When the VHP took a boy from the village for a seminar to an Indian city, the village was sure a disaster was in the making. When he came back fine, the village found new faith in the ‘trust and care’ showed by the VHP. “The VHP was like a parivar (family),” Ramkuiwangbe articulates in
Hindi. There are five VHP schools in Dima Hasao district today where “future VHP workers are raised.” “The schools are a medium to connect with society here to mainstream them—we don’t want to destroy the culture and identity of people,” he maintains. “There are many Heraka in Christian schools but their (the schools’) idea is for conversion. That is not so in our case. India is a country of unity in diversity—we want
About 2.5 billion live without proper sanitation
GENEVA, NOVEMBER 18 (MExN): ‘Equality, Dignity and the Link Between Gender-Based Violence and Sanitation,’ the theme for this year’s United Nations’ World Toilet Day, attempts to put a spotlight on the threat of sexual violence that women and girls face due to the loss of privacy as well as the inequalities that are present in usability. According to the UN, 2.5 billion people of the world do not have access to basic sanitation, including toilets or latrines, and this might entail
UN calls for end to open defecation on World Toilet Day
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dramatic consequences on human health, dignity and security, the environment, and social and economic development. In his message ahead of the World Toilet Day, the Secretary-General of UN, Ban Ki-moon stated, “One out of three women around the world lack access to safe toilets. As a result, they face disease, shame and potential violence when they seek
a place to defecate. A staggering 1.25 billion women and girls would enjoy greater health and increased safety with improved sanitation. Evidence also shows safe and clean toilets encourage girls to stay in school.” “We have a moral imperative to end open defecation and a duty to ensure women and girls are not at risk of assault and rape simply because they lack a sanitation
general conference
Our Correspondent Kohima | November 18
Nagaland minister for PWD (Roads & Bridges), Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, today lamented that there is too much criticism but no room for appreciation in Naga society today. “Anyone can get totally discouraged. When you are dedicated, when you are sincere and when you are putting all your effort, people have only the habit of criticism and Nagas have no more room for appreciation. Everyday in the papers, there is only criticism,” he worried, while addressing the annual general conference of Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Service Associations (FONSESA) here today Nienu said there is need to inspire engineers, bureaucrats, doctors and politicians from time to time, terming appreciation as the fuel of inspiration, encouragement and it is also fuel to make one work hard and strive harder. “We should give appreciation when it is due,” he said and stressed on the need to
Education as empowerment Today, “Heraka is Hindu in a greater sense but we are still a minority. In fact, the Heraka population has reduced considerably, perhaps due to Christian majority pressure from around,” feels the VHP and Heraka leader, who has been involved with grassroots social work all his life. Ramkuiwangbe is proud of his many VHP awards for social work, as well as having dined with Praveen Togadia, a renowned VHP activist. The Christians, he says, are “denying” religious minority quotas to the Heraka
Clean Kohima Movement starts on November 22
Trust deficit & rumors harmful: Azo
KOhIMA, NOVEMBER 18 (NEPS): Senior DAN Minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu has said that the current political development, wherein he was relieved of the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio as well as Chief Whip of the NPF Party, while he was in Delhi for departmental work, was mainly due to “trust deficit and rumors.” Talking to NEPS here on Tuesday, the Minister said that “trust deficit” has become a weapon for ‘rumor mongers’ to create more confusion in the State and this was exploited by those with vested interests to weaken the foundation of the NPF and the Nagaland
State Government. Asked why he had stated that NPF has lost its “regional principles” at the recent Phek District NPF Division Convention at Pfutsero, the Minister said that his core points stated during the Convention at Pfutsero were not properly elaborated. “What I said was to strengthen the party by throwing a challenge to the party’s rank and file to live up to the ideals of regionalism,” he said. Nienu further asserted that he was the one who had engineered the resolution at the Pfutsero Convention with an aim to “reaffirm and strengthen the hands of Chief Minister TR
Zeliang and NPF president, Dr. Shurhozelie and the ideals of regionalism” as he was the Minister in-charge of NPF Phek Division. The Minister urged party members not to believe in rumors but to do away with the “trust deficit” in order to ensure a strong and stable government, which, he asserted, was the need of the hour. While accepting the party’s decision on relieving him of the charge of Parliamentary Affairs and party Chief Whip, the Minister however pointed out that what was done to him should not be done to any other legislators in the greater interest of the party and the government.
give appreciation to those persons who are putting best efforts in public service. He said the whole developmental process will come to a standstill when there is so much of criticism. But appreciation will facilitate the dedicated and hard working persons to perform better and improve the society. Nienu said that development is multi dimensional, adding that development is not only in the context of building roads, bridges,
houses or infrastructures but also a process to provide good drinking water, healthcare, electricity and security to its citizens. Major part of development is in the hands of engineers, he said, and asked them to be more serious and focus in their dealings. He also urged upon the engineers to introspect and retrospect their activities and see whether they are contributing, changing or shap-
ing the country or State and making life better, making people happier and boosting the economy. We need a paradigm shift in our mindset to prosper, to develop and to be at par with other countries, he said. “Are we having quality control? Are we creating quality infrastructure? Are we creating assets or creating liabilities?” he asked, calling upon them to focus on these areas. Related story on page 5
(when filling forms, they write Hindu under religion). Although the Zeme Nagas of Dima Hasao in general stand marginalized, the Heraka are even more so due to the immense lack of education within the population. Among other blocks, filling up basic forms to avail of basic rights and government facilities stand in the way. VHP schools here provided for modern schooling to marginalized cultures, averse to losing out to the changing world around. Secular schooling by the government has faltered consistently in quality of education parted by complacent teachers. Schools like the Vivekananda Vidyalaya in Haflong come with their large ideological paintings but they also seek to give a range of modern education at affordable prices (lowest admission and monthly fees uniformly) so poor families may have some form of good schooling. But with the level of indoctrination at such schools, will future communities find themselves empowered enough to determine their own future in a world of competing identities?
Cleanliness for everyone & everyone for cleanliness
facility,” he added. Women and children remain particularly vulnerable to the problem of sanitation and the UN has decided to take the day as an opportunity to “inspire action and underscore the urgency needed to end open defecation” with the tagline “WeCantWait”. The UN General AssemMorung Express News bly in 2013 designated 19 November as World Toilet Day Kohima | November 18 to raise awareness about all people without access to Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Naa toilet despite the human gas profess to be Godly people. The right to water and sanitation. next step for us is to maintain cleanliness. Cleanliness for everyone & everyone for cleanliness.
‘We should give appreciation when it is due’
Teacher accused PWD (R&B) minister of attempted rape addresses FONSESA PFÜTSERO, NOVEMBER 18 (MExN): The Leshemi Women Society Pfütsero Town (LWSP) has expressed shock over the alleged “attempted rape” on a girl by a teacher in Pfütsero town. A press note from Mesezu u Thahu, President, LWSP and General Secretary Kewechu u Losou informed that the accused, identified as one Thd Founder Chung, an assistant teacher of Nazareth School Pfütsero, allegedly “summoned the girl when all the student and teachers are busy with their classes and attempted to rape the girl inside the toilet on November 12.” However, one of the teachers, informed the LWSP, “responded quickly and saved the girl.” The accused is reportedly absconding. The LWSP appealed to the Pfütsero Town Administrators and the school authority to apprehend the culprit at the earliest and award “befitting punishment.” Meanwhile, the Pfütsero Town Mothers Association has termed the incident as an “utter disgrace” and have demanded a “befitting punishment” for the accused.
Garcia lifts Atletico de Kolkata to win over NE United
to live together peacefully.” Ramkuiwangbe firmly believes that identity and cultural practices—songs, dances, oral traditions— need to be preserved, which Christianity did not allow for initially. “Zeme culture dwindled with Christianity, but people are getting more educated now and bringing culture back,” he admits, and also that many people converted to the religion due to the ‘sacrificial systems’ of yore leading to economic losses. The Heraka reformist movement provided a similar way out.
Morung Express Feature
India quarantines man recovering from Ebola
–Josh Billings
Between culture and identity - II Rise of ‘education’ among the Zeme Nagas in Assam
“Honey! When are you going to learn to live within our MGNREGA Income?”
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Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well
Nehru’s legacy more significant today: Rahul Gandhi
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Writes the clarion call for the Clean Kohima Movement organized under the aegis of the Angami Public Organisation and its frontal organizations namely Angami Students Union (ASU), Angami Youth Organisation (AYO), Angami Gazetted Officers Krotho (AGOK) and Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (AMK). With an aim to spread awareness on a sense of responsibility on cleanliness and civic sense to the people of Kohima, the November 22 mass cleanliness drive will initiate the beginning of the Clean Kohima Movement which according to the organizers will be a “movement for everyday” for a safer, cleaner and healthier Kohima. “Our main aim is to impart awareness to people to maintain their own waste. We should not wait for the government to do it. It is our duty too,” said Convenor K. Neibou Sekhose, adding that cleanliness is a matter of health and should be everyday social work for individuals. The movement will further come up with resolutions for the public to maintain cleanliness through basics such as cleaning up their own homes and enforcements will begin through door to door campaigns. “It is everybody’s mess, so it is everybody’s business to clean it. Everybody should own up. If we claim to be educated, we also must be clean,” stated Dr. Viketoulie Pienyü, further pointing out that the movement will continue on a sustainable basis, including education on the links between waste and disease, cleanliness and beauty/aesthetics, environment and sanitation. Dr. Pienyü further asserted that it is the government’s responsibility to provide basic infrastructure such as proper drainage system, good public
All Angami organizations are assigned to lead in their own areas and converge at TCP gate: • Northern Angami area will start from High School Junction till TCP gate, • Southern Angami area from Lerie till TCP, • Western and Chakhro area from Sato Petrol pump. • Everybody is expected to bring brooms, spades and pruning hook. • The campaign has requested the people not to bring their vehicles but to come walking to save fuel, reduce pollution and for good health. toilets, and abundant water supply. But most important of all is the need for a cleaner permanent change in the lifestyles of the Nagas. With a keen interest in beautifying and taking care of Kohima, AMK will plant flowers by the roadside in the capital. The organizers clarified that the movement is not just for Angamis but for all citizens of Kohima and further notified that it is not on the lookout for donation but welcomes anybody willing to help. “The campaign is not just a one day social work. 22 November is just the starting point,” said Kekhrielhoutuo Nakhro, former AGOK President, while adding that the campaign aims to activate all frontal organizations in spreading awareness and dedicate a day in the year to continue the campaign. Although a gigantic task, Kuovi Meyase, KMC administrator stated that the movement is ‘epic’ and a fine example of public and private cooperation, which has to be continued with missionary zeal. During the press conference held at the KMC office, Meyase also admitted that there are certain deficiencies within the KMC department which will be solved soon. “Our roads maybe bad, our house maybe bad but if we are clean, others will have a better impression of the Nagas,” concluded the Convenor, adding that a clean capital is a matter of pride for the Nagas.
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