ADC, Dimapur, V Lovitoly Sema at a function commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the Notun Basti Council, Dimapur on December 28.
Notun Bosti Council Dimapur marks 50th milestone
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 28
The 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Notun Basti Council (NBC), Dimapur was commemorated on December 28. Comprising over 1300 households and over 5500 residents today, Notun Basti is one among the 98 colonies within the Dimapur Municipal area.
It had a humble origin as a small village in the early 1960s when present day Nagaland state was a district of Assam. Pioneers, who settled in the locality at the time, pursued the idea of transforming the settlement into a village. It became a reality right after statehood in 1964 when the state government gave sanction to the formation of Naga New Model Village. It was renamed New Village, Dimapur in 1974 but the local rendition ‘Notun Basti/Bosti’ despite being an urban colony stuck.
According to a former chairman of the Council, it initially had 8 ‘Khels’ for as many different Naga tribes.
With the government recognizing the village, the pioneers formed a council which went on to be known as the Notun Basti Council.
Addressing the golden jubilee commemoration today at the colony, ADC, Dimapur V Lovitoly Sema termed the colony as one of the biggest and oldest in Dimapur and an exemplar of unity in diversity. “Where people come together, live together peacefully, help one another, only then can there be advancement,” she said.
Terming the 50 year journey as a great example of peaceful co-existence, she said that jubilee is not only celebratory but also to retrospect and plan for the future. “We must thank God and remember the pioneers of this council. Making this 50th year milestone a foundation to make our future better than the past and the present should be the challenge.”
She expressed confidence that the residents of the colony as stated by the golden jubilee theme ‘Unity for advancement’ would continue to strive to achieve communal harmony at all times. She added, “Unity brings peace. When there is peace, there is growth and progress.”
The ADC also released the NBC Golden Jubilee journal as a souvenir. The programme also had Alem Ao, a pioneering resident of the colony and also a former NBC chairperson, giving an account of how the colony and the council was formed and present chairman E Jon Ezung delivering the welcome address.
Youths of Sumi Khel presented a popular Sumi traditional game known as Imuno pi sujo sujo, while Abeni Odyuo performed a special song.
