Speech By Eno Dietho-u Seyie on behalf of the family of late Khrisanisa
Respected Chairman, Eno Peteroko Meyase, honorable Chief Guest, Rev Dr VK Nuh, distinguished Guest of Honor, Eno Scato Swu, officials representing various civil societies and organizations, beloved colleagues and friends of my father and all the dignitaries in attendance. It gives me immense pleasure and joy to be standing before you on this auspicious occasion.
Unlike other Nations, the Nagas never did form or run a Government in the past. Our forefathers lived as a simple people and maintained good neighborly relations with one another, basically guided by the fine qualities and virtues they have learnt to live with. They possessed qualities such as the sense of gratefulness, love and affection and the respect for what is considered a taboo. Unfortunately, this independence, peace and tranquility came under imminent threat from outsiders who sent in their occupational forces to subdue and take over the control of their land. In the process, they even started to kill our people. This was when the various Naga tribes were compelled to start a movement of resistance by forming its own Government. In the process, the Nagas bestowed the greatest respect and trust on my father when he was elected to the post of Kedahge, Federal Government of Nagaland.
On this day, I would like to put across my sincere gratitude to the Naga people for having assigned the prestigious post of Kedahge to my father. I am especially touched because, at that point of time, the Nagas as a whole were united as one and they have extended their unflinching cooperation and support to my father when he served the Naga Nation as Kedahge. On my part, words are inadequate to express my gratefulness to all the Nagas for having done so.
As a human being, my father had his own weaknesses. As such, I would like to avail this opportunity to seek forgiveness, in the name of God Almighty, from one and all for any mistake or wrong my father might have committed towards the Naga Nation or any individual or tribe while discharging his duties.
Today, we are gathered here to unveil the monolith erected to commemorate my deceased father. I am immensely touched by the huge turn out, which in itself shows just how much the Nagas still love and respect my father and I once again convey my sincere thanks to you all. My dear fellow Nagas, just as we have exhibited solidarity and oneness by gathering here on this special day, let us strive to ever remain united in the interests and for the sake of the Naga cause. Thank you all once again. Kuknalim!!
Speech by I Matong Longkumer on unveiling the traditional Monolith erected to commemorate late Khrisanisa Seyie, the first President, FGN
Mr Chairman Sir, honourable Chief Guest Rev VK Nuh, distinguished Guest of Honour Eno Secato Swu, respected elders and leaders of Khonoma Village, Rastrum guest, ladies and gentleman, friends and members present here from far and near.
At the very outset I would like to thank the Programme Committee for giving me this unique opportunity to say a few words on this historic moment.
Friends, look around you and look about us, we neither speak the same language nor do we wear the same dress, nor the colour of our skin is the same. But we are the unity of Nagas which is “NAGA”.
It was a historical necessity that we should have a Government, so the Nagaland Excluded Area, (the British District) under the umbrella of the Naga National Council (NNC) and free Naga, the Eastern Nagaland under Hongking united together and formed the Federal Government of Nagaland in 1956. And Uncle late Khrisanisa was the first Kedahge (President) of the Federal Government of Nagaland.
Today history is unfolding in front of our eyes. This sense of history strengthens us and instills a sense of our right to be free. The historical right, the real issue, is more powerful than any other claim.
Throughout history we never had the misfortune to become a subject of any foreign power. This is because of men like uncle late Khrisanisa.
This monolith will be a guiding light and spirit for us, and a beacon light to guide the coming generation. It will remain, standing tall and proud as a light house, not to draw people but to direct them and show them the right path. Nothing is as important as the present because this is where we live. What is happening now will also take its queue in the annals of the Naga history.
Today we live in an environment where we are afraid of our own shadow. Rampant corruption and lust for money, pleasure and immorality; threats and intimidation; extortion and violence, has become the fashion of the day.
There is lack of work culture, insufficient development of character, accountability becomes a far cry, cleanliness in public life has been reduced to historical concept. Lying and perjury are so common that truth and honesty seem to have will high vanished from our society.
Our present Nagaland is sick; it is politically sick, it is geographically sick and of course mentally and psychologically sick as well. Everybody is a master, everybody is a leader but nobody has authority.
We have got immune deficiency; we have got leadership deficiency. Everywhere we have broken homes and broken society. Besides all that we are spiritually bankrupt. You name it, we have got it all. Except Peace. Peace we do not have. Let me ask you this question, what kind of peace do we really want today? Is it peace with honour or it is peace with shame? It is peace with victory or is it peace with defeat? Or is it peace with God?
Today we are searching and looking for peace in all the wrong places. We try with our own wisdom and knowledge, power and money, but fail miserably. Whereas peace is very much within our reach. But why can’t we have peace? Because we have forgotten our covenant with the Prince of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, and our pledge “Nagaland for Christ”.
This was the promise of God. Listen:- Leviticus 26:6 – “I will give you peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beast, and the sword will not go through your land.” What a wonderful promise we have missed.
We need change, we need to be changed. It is easy to say but very difficult to do. Remember, it took only one day for the Israelites to leave Egypt but it took forty years for Egypt to leave the Israelites. We must remove Egypt from our hearts. One important factor of change is trust. It helps remove fears of uncertainty.
In society like ours, riddled with conflicts that has bred suspicions, the challenges before us are immense. We need to evolve and create new ways of trusting, and one way is the sense of Justice. Justice brings change and such a change is necessary for the reconciliation process, as it facilitates the healing of wounded people scars.
In Naga society, every one has scars.
Never have we been so afraid of the future. Never before has there been reason to feel that we were travelling along a road ending only in a precipice. The question that immediately confronts us is what kind of society is it likely to become after a decade or half a century from now. What change can we visualize and commit our effort, this direction.
Beyond question we all need help from some source outside ourselves. We need peace of mind, we need courage and hope, we need guidance and direction. In the gathering of storm we need a light that will not go out. Amid darkness and confusion we need a voice to say with certainty –This is the way I can help you. But where shall such help be found? In some local discussion groups? At the political forum? Or in some NGOs or some HOHOs?
There is a better place; the Bible. If we all will take time to read our Bible, we will discover that it has a message for our day and for all mankind. It offers a solution for our current perplexity; it even draws back the curtain of the future revealing things to come. It speaks the words of comfort and courage, inspiration and challenge that the times demand, and our own hearts’ need.
Our action today will shape the next generation. We need to create the right spirit and attitude in playing our role.
The situation of the times calls upon us to come into consciousness and become relevant beings, to get clear view of our vision and focus on it with strong determination. (When vision and focus change division arises).
It is not where we are today but where we are going that counts.
The road, I fear, is long but let us not lost sight of our ultimate goal. Let us face every disappointment with hope, and every failure with courage.
Let us look behind us with understanding, before us with faith, and around us with love.
Thank you.
