25th founding anniversary of Dorians Society
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 29
Jubilees are not only for reflecting on the past but also making a determined resolve to go forward, said Rev Dr Wati Aier, Convenor, Forum for Naga Reconciliation.
As the keynote speaker, at the Silver Jubilee of the Dorians Society on December 29, Dr Aier said, “Today, in reflection, we are also making a determination to go forward. The past evolves to the present and from the present, you imagine the future… what are you going to do?”
But the imagined future has to be realistic than idealistic as Nagas are often prone to, he said, while adding, “Imagination not simply for the sake of imagining but with substance.”
Drawing a parallel with the Dorians of ancient Greece, from which the society borrowed the name, Dr Aier said that the Dorians were not only an ethnic group but a people that advanced, led by individuals within the community, who were determined to make a difference. He added, “And hearing the story on the inception of the Dorians Society, what you had was very intentional. There was a hand that was leading you, guiding you. The 25 years of your history testifies to the fact that God was leading you and is still leading you.”
Putting emphasis on “intentional” as a term, he said that a society that is formed voluntarily is stronger. According to him, this foundational characteristic of the society is what makes it dynamic and an evolving entity. “It is very much Christian in the sense that we are voluntarily working towards the final purpose. If I want to leave a word to you young people, keep on doing what you have started,” he said.
While the individuals, who founded the society, are today older, he said that they, as youngsters, had substance with a capital, and which is an exemplar of the good the Naga youth can do. “I am glad that you started without seeking assistance from anywhere. You donated your own, such a good example,” he said.
He noted that the Dorians Society, which initially started out as an exclusive entity, has evolved to become more inclusive and this, he added, is relevant in today’s world of pluralism.
While stating that the youth of today are better informed and with vibrant ideas, he said that it would be wrong for the elders to undermine young minds. He said, “I pray that God will bless you for the next 25 years and produce and make the difference in our Naga society, a society that will be transformed because of small acts of imagination that comes from a society like the Dorians.”
Founding President of the Dorians Society, K Wapong Longkumer, reminisced the formation of the society, which started out as a club in March 1997 with the motto— Ohne Hast, ohne rast (Without haste, without rest).
While sports was the initial focus, he said that the founding members imagined it as a club with diversity. As individuals, we did not possess outstanding skills. But we believed, as a team, we could achieve something,” he said.
As a club and later as a registered society, it went on to excel in sports, especially in football, winning quite a name in the football circuit, he said. As initially imagined, it forayed into social work while introducing some civic services in the community. According to Longkumer, it was among the first to introduce door-to-door collection of household waste, besides initiating a street-lighting project.
“We had our up and downs. I am proud to say that we are still surviving today,” he said. “It is always good to get a sense of achievement but we cannot afford to rest on laurels,” he said, while stating that 25 years is a long time in a person’s life but in the context of an organisation or society, it is only the beginning.
As part of commemorating the silver jubilee, the society informed that it has decided to allow membership irrespective of gender. It further pledged to start an Educational Trust Fund for meritorious students, while setting in motion the society’s long cherished Dorians Sporting Club.
