Nagaland Chief Minister Rio believes that oneness, togetherness, and harmony are essential for Naga society

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the administration put the word 'Unity' in the state's emblem after realising that the primary requirement of Naga society at the present is oneness, unity, and harmony. Rio was the main guest during the culmination of the year-long celebration of Naga Students' Federation's (NSF) 75th anniversary on the subject "Call to Oneness" here.
NSF is the governing body of Naga students and youths.
Unfortunately, divisions within the Naga family began in the 1960s and continue unabated to this day. Naga nationalist groups are divided into various camps, and tribalism is making an appearance in Naga civil society.

"Unfortunately, we don't even have a single authentic pan-Naga organisation, whether it's a civil society, a tribal body, or a students' association," Rio remarked.
Recognizing the urgent need for oneness, unity, and peace in Naga society at the time, the government took the lead and inserted the word 'Unity' in the state symbol during his first tenure as chief minister, according to Rio. According to Rio, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) has voted as many as six resolutions seeking the unification of all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof, the first in 1964 and the most recent in 2018.

Rio stated that the NLA's 60 members had also chosen to form an opposition-free United Democratic Alliance (UDA) administration, and that "all of them can be seen as some of our collective acts in pursuit of our aim of Naga unity of oneness." "Today, the Nagas require a new awakening as well as coordinated efforts to rekindle Naga nationhood, patriotism, and oneness. This will be the most effective way for us to restore Naga society's emotions of unity and harmony "he stated.

Rio congratulated the NSF on selecting an important subject "Call to Oneness" as the theme for their 75th anniversary celebration, saying that throughout the last 75 years, the NSF had undertaken different activities to foster a sense of oneness among Naga brothers and sisters in Naga-inhabited territories. He stated that the NSF was established not only to oversee student activities, but also to cultivate and conserve the rich Naga identity - cultures, customs, and traditional heritage - as well as to safeguard the common Naga interest and foster oneness and cooperation among Nagas. Rio asked the NSF to be a catalyst in mentoring and moulding the kids so that they can reach their maximum potential.

The attendance of brethren from all corners of the Naga motherland in today's festival, according to NSF president Kegwayhun Tep, "is in itself a symbolic statement of our most innate yearning to constantly hold the developing Naga family together as one Naga at all times to come." "It is critical for Nagas to be able to see beyond differences, prejudices of all regional prefixes, and tribal complications, away from one's egoistic mindset, tribal interest, and vested desire, in order to bring about a decent future for all Nagas," he stated.

Responding to the "Call to Oneness" in honour of the NSF's 75th anniversary, Nagas should resolve today to become contributing members in order to revive and sustain the spirit of oneness among Naga people everywhere, said former NSF president and 75th anniversary planning committee convenor K Temjen Jamir.

(source : PTI)