I visited Mount Olive for the first time about six years ago. It was then what could be called a developing college with half constructed buildings and unfinished concrete work on the lower levels. Even at that time, the teachers were very positive about the new space they would soon occupy. Their expectations have been met superbly and today Mount Olive boasts buildings as luxurious as the top colleges in the state.
Their cultural day celebration was a fine display of the cosmopolitan nature of the institution. Besides students from nearly all the Naga tribes, there were representations by students from Bihar and Bengal, as well as students of Nepali origin. A senior teacher explained, ‘Our college policy is never to reject any student for admission. So long as they have the pass certificate, they are qualified to join classes. But the students always show improvement in a few months of joining.’
That was both encouraging and inspiring to hear in an age where many institutions are emphasising academic excellence and using a filtering process whereby only the good scorers would get a chance at higher education. What an example of inclusion this college has exhibited. There were many students in their traditional dress on that day. Not surprisingly, all of them looked smart and colourful and confident. The presentations were brilliantly choreographed and exhibited accordingly. I was surprised to learn that it was the students themselves who had arranged the choreography and music. The bass and baritone voices singing folk tunes could certainly compete with folk singers anywhere else. It was clear that the students had other talents beyond the demands of their academic lives.
Mount Olive is a fine example of what a local church can achieve if they truly believe in a dream. The college was born out of the need to help struggling students who could not qualify for the existing colleges. Today it has outstripped many colleges in the state, having received their NAAC accreditation without any problem. A prominent member of the church told me the highly encouraging story of how the college was established with the active help of the Kohima Sumi church community. After its formative years, the college began to stand quite firmly on its feet and it repaid its debt to the church by contributing generously to the construction of the present church building. The institution continues to reward the trust of the church not only by generating income, but mainly by becoming a premier institution that puts into practice the principles of compassion and inclusivity of the weaker members. This outlook of the college is a practical application of what the church teaches and aspires to.
Mount Olive does its duty very well in keeping young students off the streets. Within its walls, the young are learning that they have a future and many of them grab the opportunity to better their grades and add meaning to their lives. What more could we want out of an institution for higher education? Smart and confident students walk the halls of learning, respectfully greeting their teachers. Both teachers and students are good at innovation and any outsider can see that the family atmosphere of the college goes toward generating a very beneficial influence on the young minds. We will continue to wish them exceedingly well.
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Taking No for an answer
Part of Naga culture is to never take no for an answer. It seems to me that we really need to rethink this. You know the scene. A friend or acquaintance asks you to give a talk for their organisation. A request that comes on top of the pile of work you have at hand. Badgering, and persuasion are used to their limits to get you to agree to participate. No excuse seems to have been invented to date in these situations. Some people will not even consider health reasons. Perhaps if the object of their persuasion were lying in a satin lined coffin, looking convincingly dead, they would give up! Please just stop. Please start taking NO for an answer. People usually have good reasons when they turn down your request. All in agreement with me may kindly raise their hands! Thank you. (Bows out).
