Kuhovi Swu: The undercover social worker

Akangchila Longchar 
Morung Express Feature 
Dimapur | March 16

Father of five children and a teacher by profession, 49 year old Kuhovi Swu belongs to a league of extraordinary men. He is living proof of the adage, ‘you cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind’.  Defying society’s so called standard norms, for the past ten years Kuhovi has been voluntarily cleaning Medziphema town all by himself. The town’s spick-and-span look owes its credit to this man.  

Kuhovi has no qualms of sweeping the town, clearing drainage, disposing garbage. And this is precisely what he has been doing every early morning for the past 10 years. In fact, Kuhovi has built many wooden benches for the people of the town and travelers alike to rest and enjoy the scenic beauty of the town, and has also planted uncountable trees and plants. It is not a rare occurrence for the people of Medziphema town to see Kuhovi sweep the town streets along with the town committee sweeper. 

Born in Medziphema, he finished his schooling in Medziphema and completed his college at Kohima. He is currently serving in the Educational Block Research Centre (EBRC) as a Trainer of Teachers (ToT). Possessing a sunny disposition, Kuhovi does not play the blame game. He refuses to point fingers at any particular organization or committee and opines that it is the duty of every individual to keep their locality or place clean. However, he does admit that many people fail to understand why he is doing what he is doing. 

In fact, the well spoken, intelligent man who is an experienced teacher cites instances of how there are people appreciative of his initiative, however would not bother to follow his example. Then there are some that say I’m crazy, and the rest implores me to maintain my prestige saying I’m a teacher, he shares candidly.  He also narrates that he has had instances where people get angry when he cleans a place saying that it’s their area so they would prefer to clean on their own. 

Despite the odds, Kuhovi has ploughed on with his work. And today his childhood friend Meghozo Meru, a businessman, has joined him. “It’s been a year since Meghozo had joined me,” Kuhovi says grinning seemingly pleased that he was able to inspire one of his dearest friends.  He admits that the work is not easy and takes time. He also reveals that he has to sleep early, and then wake up early so he can finish cleaning the town before going for his office duty. 

Right from childhood, Kuhovi had always wanted to be a social worker. And later in his life, after having settled down and started a family, with a good job in hand, he said he still did not forget his desire to give back to the society. “My dream to be a social worker is what inspired me. To become a rich man is not my priority,” he adds.

Witty by nature, Kuhovi describes himself as a Sema by blood, Angami by speech and Kuki by profession. He also shared a town joke, that whenever small children drop bits of paper on the ground, the people jokingly refer that Kuhovi and Meghozo will show up, so the kids would be warned not to dirty the place. His own children, for that matter has started to slowly emulate Kuhovi. “I don’t tell my kids to follow me, but I of course used to think “will they follow my footstep?”. I have experience that a child will always follow their parents. 

The man has grand plans. Kuhovi shared that he aims to open a ‘work club’ with his children, and emphasize on civic sense and cleanliness. 

For he professes to strongly believe that cleanliness is the foremost and if we are not clean in our society then the attitude will naturally be bad as well. However he is not a man to preach. In fact, he quietly does what he has to every day. 

He said that he wants to make people aware on issues of cleanliness. He states that he has observed that people are learning, and picking up the habit slowly. For now, Kuhovi says that it’s better to concentrate only at Medziphema town but that he would wish to expand his work to other areas. 

Kuhovi considers his work as a blessing, and although him and his friend receives no help from organizations or departments, he says receiving the rare ‘squash or water’ from people is enough. He said that through his small initiative, he hopes that the younger generation will learn something. 

However, Kuhovi has managed to draw the attention of SBI Agri Development Branch (ADB) located in Medziphema. After seeing his works, several SBI officials had met Kuhovi and now talks are on from SBI to donate a garden in appreciation of his work. 
It’s been 10 years since Kuhovi has started this noble task. And he has dutifully cleaned the town ever since he started, sans for the few times he had to go out-station.  So ask him how long he will continue with the work, and you will receive an unhesitating “Lifelong” as the answer.

An inspiration to people, young and old, in the town he lives at, and his colleagues, Kuhovi is a man who works very hard, and not for a selfish gain. Here’s to a man deserving our standing ovation.