(From Left) Nagaland Childrens Home Director Kolhi Wetsah, Housemother Kedu-u Wetsah and Probation Officer Liliy Wetsah with the children.
Y Merina Chishi
Dimapur | November 19
One man's journey across remote villages of Nagaland and his encounters with helpless, starving fellow-Nagas translated into a humanitarian service that would change thousands of lives and continue to give hope to many more even after his passing.
The story of Nagaland Childrens Home (NCH) can best be described as a journey of love, compassion and hope.
Established in 1972 in Diphupar village, Dimapur by the late Soyelo Wetsah (fondly known as SP Wetsah) and his wife Kedu-u Lasuh, NCH was built with a mission to help the poor, destitute and downtrodden children and women.
NCH is funded by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Ministry of Women and Child Development.
In his memoir, SP Wetsah wrote: 'During my journeys i encountered orphans, children and women suffering and in need of care and protection. These encounters changed my perspective and mission in life for good'.
Late SP Wetsah was born at Chizami village under Phek district in 1931. In 1940 he joined the lower primary schools in his village but the school closed down in 1943 when World War II broke out. In 1945 after the end of the war, he rejoined school and also converted to Christianity. For that he was banished from home. He reunited with his family in 1949 after his parents converted to Christianity. While in his high school, SP's heart yearned to serve the community and ultimately he decided to drop out of school and take his family to Mon district to serve the people there on his first mission.
While in Mon, he travelled to some of the remotest villages bordering Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh. There, he and his wife taught the Konyak people the art of administration and economic sustenance. However, given the situation back then, his works would invite suspicion of the Armed forces and ultimately he and his family were vacated from Mon. With a heavy heart, SP returned home and joined the Naga national movement in 1963. He served as a Joint Secretary of the Naga Army Organisation, Federal Government of Nagaland.
During his journey as a Naga freedom fighter he travelled through the length and breadth of Naga inhabited areas, and it was there that he witnessed the lack of love, help and compassion among many Naga communities. 'I realised that the truth of each person's responsibility is to care for another fellow being...it burned like a fire in my heart,' he wrote in his memoir.
NCH takes care of orphans and children between the ages of 5 to 18 from poor/underprivileged background. “Our mission has been and is to educate, train and equip them for their future,” says Kolhi Wetsah, director of NCH who took over after his father's demise in 2013.
NCH has been home to over 5000 plus children in the last 50 years. Its alumni include doctors, army officers, bankers, lecturers among others. Currently the Home has 39 children (26 boys and 13 girls). No child is made to leave till he or she pass class 12 (even if they fail). Apart from free education, children here are imparted with life skills like farming, gardening, cleaning etc. “Although ICDS guidelines mention that children should be provided with a cook and washer, we don't want them to depend on others for their survival. They need to be equipped to in all aspects to face the world after they leave from here,” Kolhi says.
The tradition of running the Home has been passed down under the guardianship of Kedu-u, who continues to be the 'Housemother'. Though she is no longer actively involved in the day to day affairs of the Home, her role cannot be ignored. “She has been the backbone of the Home,” Khrolhi-u Wetsah, counsellor of the Home.
The journey of 50 years has had its share of ups and downs. Funding has become irregular especially in the last two to three years. However, donations and assistance from well wishers has kept the Home running smoothly. Kolhi says, “God has been very kind to us.'
As NCH looks to the future to celebrate 50 years, preparation is on to commemorate the life of man and woman who dedicated their entire life to the welfare of the downtrodden and the endevour to carry on the legacy remains. As SP Wetsah wrote in his memoire, 'I express my genuine hope that Nagaland Childrens Home will continue to be a torchbearer for the destitute and others in dire plight. I believe it will continue to be a channel of blessing.’
