Monalisa Changkija
It is imperative that Naga women know our history, as much as our culture and traditions, especially the milestones we have made in the form of breaking away from the oft beaten paths and being the first amongst Naga women to walk on uncharted paths and reach unscaled heights in various fields — and that too against and despite numerous odds. Since the advent of Christianity, Naga women have pioneered and persevered in several fields and have thus opened and paved the way for the younger generation of Naga women to sail on it smoothly today. The connotations of history should never be undermined because without a past, our present is ephemeral and our future a blur.
Today Naga women can take great pride that since the advent of Christianity, let’s say since the dawn of the modern era, we have a history of our own, which none should disregard and treat with indifference, or distort in any way. We have a history of oral traditions and we know much of our history have been lost due to several factors but attempts have been made to record the milestones Naga women have crossed in the past hundred years or so. For this we must acknowledgement, appreciate and be grateful to the Women Department of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), which recorded the List of First Naga Women in its souvenir Striving Towards Excellence, published on the occasion of celebrating Naga Women in the 21st Century from October 4 to 7, 2001. The List of First Naga Women recorded the names of 72 Naga women in various fields, starting from the year 1923. Of course the souvenir doesn’t claim that the list is exhaustive and since 2001, there must certainly have been several more Firsts. After the publication of this souvenir, there was much excitement in Nagaland and even our local newspapers published the names of the leading ladies, but since some memories seem to require refreshing, the list is reproduced here once again.
Now, this issue is being raised because during the International Women’s Day celebrations at Kohima, on March 8, 2007, organized by the state Department for Women Development, the state Social Welfare Board and the state Commission for Women, only a few of the Firsts were given the acknowledgment and awards they richly deserved. This is in no way belittling or begrudging the 13 women who were felicitated and awarded on March 8 last at Kohima but to know why the majority of the Firsts did not even find a mention on that day? Surely for the Department for Women Development, the state Social Welfare Board and the state Commission for Women, acknowledging the achievements of around a hundred Naga women isn’t too much of a difficult task, is it?
The point here is the significance of acknowledging our heroines, as well as anti-heroines since they too have broken the shackles of patriarchal prisons and have soared greater heights, because societies need heroes and heroines to lead them further. When we fail to acknowledge our heroes and heroines, we not only disregard and show indifference to them but also to our history.
Moreover, somehow it has been made to appear that the younger generation of Naga women has not made any strides and achievements, as most of the awardees are well over 60 years of age. This is also in no way belittling or begrudging age but to assert that the younger Naga women have made greater strides than men of their generation, which need to be acknowledged, especially as an encouragement for the generation of women who are now in schools and colleges and who should be provided all inspiration to scale greater heights and lead our society and state to greater glory.
How many of us know that I Lhovili Swu had secured a Gold Medal in Javelin at a national level competition held in Punjab and is a record holder in the Northeast for athletics such as Shot put, Javelin and Discus? How many of us remember her? And, when would she be acknowledged and awarded by the state Government? More importantly, who would ‘campaign’ for her as a pioneer Naga woman Athlete, who deserves the state’s honour, if not the various departments and agencies specifically set-up for women’s empowerment?
How many of us know that Khezheli of Chekiye, Dimapur was awarded the Padmashree for loin loom weaving way back in the 1970s/1980s? Why wasn’t she awarded too this year?
How many of us know of the several Gold Medals some of our Naga women have been awarded by colleges and universities across the country for academic excellence?
How many of us know that some of us have records of being Firsts not only in Nagaland but also in the entire Northeast?
This list surely cannot be exhausted but the point again is that knowledge is power — the power to put things in proper perspective, especially in terms of recording history. Today ignorance is also no longer considered an excuse. And today’s is the era of documentation and patents and we cannot allow Naga women’s history to be hijacked in any way whatsoever.
Today women are also no longer submissive and self-effacing. Women today are go-getters, assertive and demand their share of credits. And why not? Isn’t this also crucial to empowerment? Besides, why should women who deserve accolades be forgotten, or worse still ignored?
All this naturally demands that the state Government departments and agencies set-up for women’s empowerment must properly document Naga women’s history in proper perspective, and in a very professional manner.
Postscript: I know I’m opening a Pandora’s Box but why not?
LIST OF 1ST NAGA WOMEN
The Women’s Department NBCC is pleased to publish a list of First Naga Women (of tribes in Nagaland) in different fields. The prime object of the project is to capture how women initially ventured into the field of formal education and how gradually they diversified into different fields. This is the first attempt made by the Department to draw out such a list and hence the list has limitations such as (i) the list is confined to Naga women (of tribes) in Nagaland only (ii) the list is limited to only 18 fields/courses. It does not cover women in every field that may exist today. (iii) the list does not reflect all the various branches within a given field/course.
ACADEMIC (GENERAL)
Matric Late Kevirieno, Gauhati, 1923
BA Late Rosalind Sokhrieno Lungalang, Cotton College, Gauhati, & Univ. of Calcutta, 1939
B.Sc Amongla Toy, Cotton College, Gauhati, 1960
B.Com Sanadola Ao, NEHU, Shillong, 1983; Toshila, Dimapur Govt. College, 1983
MA Neichülieü Nikki Haralu, Haverford, Pennsylvania, USA, 1953
M.Sc. I T Asangla Jamir, NEHU, Shillong, 1976
M.Com Kouliebeiü Mor, NEHU, Kohima, 1983
M.Phil Zetso Sakhrie, JNU, New Delhi, 1980
(Arts)
M.Phil Megono L Zetsuvi, JNU, New Delhi,
(Sc.) 1981
Ph. D Dr. Temsüla Ao, NEHU, Shillong,
(Arts) 1983
Ph.D (Sc.) Dr. M Alemla Ao, SASRD, Medziphema, NEHU, 1988.
THEOLOGY
B.R.E. Noksangchila, Leonard Theological College, 1960
B.D. Khrieleno Terhüja, United Theological College, Bangalore,1966
M.Th. Akumla Longkumer, Fuller Theology Seminary, Bangalore, 1981
Ph.D Dr. Akumla Longkumer, Fuller Theology Seminary, Bangalore, 1998
Pastor Rev. Sennangchila, Ao Baptist Church, Sungratsü, 1993
Reverend Rev Dr. L Noksangla, Ordained by ABAM, 1992
TEACHING
M.Ed. Late I Chubala Longkumer, Univ. of Allahabad, 1956
MEDICAL
MBBS Dr. Khielieü Kirekhanuo, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, 1954
MBBS Dr. Taenla Yanger, AIIMS, New Delhi,
MD 1982
B.Sc. Ghotoli Chishi, Delhi University, 1971
Nursing
M.Sc. Khevili Shohe, Raj Kumari Kaur
Nursing College Of Nursing, New Delhi, 1993
ENGINEERING
B.E. Er. Limanaro, Assam Engineering College, Gauhati, 1986;
Er. T Amongla, Regional Engineering College, Haryana, 1986
LAW
LLB Khesheli Swu, Delhi University, 1986; Imcharenla, Kohima Law College (NEHU), 1986
LLM Nithonguno Liegise, Poona University, 1990
VETERINARY
B.V.Sc. Dr. M Catherine Khatsü, College of Vety. Science, Assam Agri. Univ., 1989; Dr. Asenuo Linyü, Assam Agri. Univ., College of Vety. Science, 1989
M.V.Sc. Dr. M Catherine Khatsü, Faculty of Vety. Science, Kerala Agriculture Univ., 1994
AGRICULTURE
B.Sc. Agri Rongseninla, Haryana Agricultural Univ., Hissar, Haryana, 1981; Watienla Jamir, Haryana Agricultural Univ., Hissar, Haryana, 1981
M.Sc. Agri Rongseninla, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parma Univ. of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan HP, 1986; Watienla Jamir, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parma Univ. of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan HP, 1986
Ph.D. Dr. Yashitola Jamir, Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
New Delhi, 1993.
HOME SCIENCE
B.Sc. Aienla Bendang, JD Birla Institute
H.Sc. of Home Science, Jadavpur Univ.,
Hons Kolkata, 1968
M.Sc. Vizotuonuo Kuotsu, Punjab Agri.
H.Sc. Univ., Ludhiana, 1982
M.Phil. Eunice Shitiri, SNDT Univ.,
H.Sc. Mumbai, 1990
PHARMACOLOGY
B.Pharm. C Thungchanbeni Lotha, University of Sagar, Sagar, UP, 1989
AYURVEDA
BAMS Dr. Yanbeni Humtsoe, Govt. Ayurvedic College, Guwahati, Assam, 1994
P.G.(AMS) Dr. Yanbeni Humtsoe, Benares Hindu Univ., UP, 1998
ARCHITECTURE
B.Arch Arenla Alinger Kechü, School of Planning Architecture, Delhi, 1992
LIBRARY SCIENCE
B.Lib. Sc. Limayangla, Guwahati University, 1974
M.L.I.Sc. Meseno P Liegise, Delhi University, 1992
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
HMC & N Narola Chiten, Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Nutrition, PUSA, New Delhi, 1985
MASS COMMUNICATION
MA Bano Haralu, Mass Com., Jamia Milia Islamia, 1987
MUSIC
BA Vivee Kenileno Peseye, Moody Bible
(Church Music) Inst., USA, 1985.
MM Vivee Kenileno Peseye, Biola Univ.
(Church Music) CA, USA, 1988.
ADMINISTRATION
IAS Banuo Z Jamir, UPSC, New Delhi, 1977.
Ambassador Neichülieü Nikki Haralu, Panama, Costa Rica & Nicaragua, 1978-80.
BANK INDUSTRY
Banking Sülangnaro Aier, Banking Service
Services Recruitment Board, 1983.
LEGISLATURE (POLITICS)
MP Rano Mese Shaiza, 6th Lok Sabha,
(Nagaland) India, 1977-80.
ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: -
Padmashree: Chubala Ao was awarded Padmashree by the Government of India in 1981 for Social Service. She served as the Chairperson of Social Welfare Advisory Board, Nagaland, from 1964 to 1966. She held several other offices.
Neidonuo Angami was awarded Padmashree by the Government of India in 2000 for Social Service. She has been the President of Naga Mothers’ Association since 1994 till date and has held many other offices.
Archery: Vesüzolü Swüro Vadeo: Name in record books with Regional Mark (North East India). Won several Individual Championships at various National Archery Competitions and also bagged several medals at International Archery Tournaments.
Athletics: I Lhovili Swu: Secured a Gold Medal in javelin throw at a national level competition held in Punjab. Record holder in several games in the northeast such as shot-put, javelin & discus throw.
Painting: Sienthi Imlong Obed: A self-taught painter, has organized several group & solo exhibitions. Undertook tours related to Art and Painting in London and Paris. Back cover of the Souvenir contains a piece of her work. Had a stint in Atlanta Make-up Artistry at Kirk College Health & Beauty, New Castle.
Music: Nini Vinguriaü Lungalang: Licentiate; Trinity College of Music London 1970. She excels in the field of music and teaches playing of piano till date. She has given several outstanding performances in piano playing especially in classical music. She was awarded a scholarship by the Trinity College of Music, London, after her ATCL.
Entrepreneur: Ruth Belho: The initiator of traditional handloom products, she set up Ruth Naga Emporium in 1960 at Dimapur. Participated at National Handicraft Exhibition at Bombay 1964 and also at World Fair, New York, America, in 1966.
Ghotoli Chishi: Is a case of first-nurse-turned-entrepreneur, is an exporter of Naga Handloom products. She is the owner of Gürtel at Kohima. A person with multiple talents, she has several projects in hand such as rubber plantation, farming etc.
Jean Sekhose: A successful entrepreneur, has a handloom product unit Heirloom at Kohima. Jean’s main objective has been to enhance village economy, by employing rural women as master weavers. She has exhibited her products at the National level.
Journalism: Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija: A noted journalist in the North East, she is the only woman in the NE who is the editor, sole proprietor and publisher of an English daily, Nagaland Page.
(She is also the only member of the National Standing Committee on Gender from the Northeast region)
Medicine: Dr. Joyce Z Angami: She worked in United Kingdom for 13 years & now serves her people at her private Neilhouzhü Clinic in Kohima besides being the NGO advisor of NSACS and Commissioner of Bharat Guides NE Regional Headquarter and Nagaland Branch.
Electronic Media: Vitsulieü Sekhose: She cleared the UPSC examination in 1975 and joined the All India Radio, Kohima, and was promoted to the Station Director of AIR Kohima. She has been promoted to the post of the Deputy General of AIR.
New Fields: With the explosion of knowledge, information and IT accessibility, we have many new disciplines today. Naga women have been successful in fields such as B.Sc/M.Sc. Geology – M Thechano Kikon, (1983, Bangalore Univ.), B. (Tech) Computer Engg. Linda K Zeliang Meru, (Karnataka Regional Engg. College 1992). Geneticist – Dr Asangla Ao, (1990 College of Univ. London). She is presently teaching as professor in the department of Geneticist and Gynaecology, McGill Univ., Montreal, Canada.
NCC: SGT Elizabeth Belho successfully completed Parachute Descent Course under Army Wing NCC from 1st – 20th Nov. 2000, conducted by the Indian Air Force Para Trooper Training School in Agra.
Note:
The Survey Committee had earlier intimated to all the persons to whom the forms were distributed initially, that the said forms were to be returned by a specified date (i.e. 20th March) and news items were published twice in 3 English Dailies (31st Aug, 14-15 Sept.) since the initial response was not forthcoming. However, despite our best efforts to compile an accurate list, errors may have entered the list, which was unintentional.
The NBCCWD appeals to all concerned to bear with the limitations of the List. It is hoped that further attempts would be made to work on an expanded/detailed list.
Errors may be rectified in the next edition. NBCCWD.
(Courtesy: Striving Towards Excellence)
