William Wordsworth was right when he said, “Imagination is better than reality”. Life was not fun and rosy as they thought it would be. These are some of the young boys of Alice Christian Higher Sec. School Ukhrul in frenzy mood whether to celebrate Christmas or not. The final exam is over, and the results are soon to be declared in a matter of days. Most of their roommates in the hostel have left the day they finished their exam for home. Some Parents came and waited for their children to write off their last paper, so that they could go home together.
As for these boys their home sweet home is their big dormitory and their loving parents, the warden of the hostel. Their world was scarcely larger than a house. Yet, they are too young to be worried, for as long as they are fed two meals a day with a light breakfast in between, it was more than enough. Life is all about being well fed. And may that be the frame of mind of those responsible leaders who were too busy to settle the unsettled question.
The reason for their coming to Ukhrul was the Tangkhul Student’s Union (TKS} in collaboration with the Ukhurl District Teachers Welfare Association (UDTWA) undertook a project to impart quality education to our dear brothers living in Somra, Eastern Nagaland. One of the still unreached areas in terms of social and economic infrastructure. Humanly speaking, it is a noble act of service to mankind. These eight boys were selected by their respective union to come to Ukhrul and get quality education as proposed.
Alice Christian Higher Sec. School is a school run by Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) women’s Association, (named after the wife of the first missionary William Pettigrew). In 2000 the school was upgraded to the Higher secondary level with both arts and science stream. At present it accommodates about 1250 students. Attached to the school, it has hostel facilities for boys and girls. ACHSS being a mission school, it also provides free education and boarding to orphans. And may be that was the reason they choose this school.
Their first day in school almost dashed the staffs as they understood only their mother tongue. There was no point of immediate communication. There was no proper uniform, textbook, exercise book and no proper clothes to warm Themselves.mUkhrul being a cold place all the year round,warm cloth is a necessity.Appearently their condition seems so pathetic that some teachers volunteered to provide their needs from inner wear to outer wears. Their supply could not reach on time that the children had to wait. And they seem to be enjoying even waiting (unlike the grown-ups).
These eight boys from Somra were exempted of school fees. To compensate their free admission the responsible persons have been providing rations (rice/dal). Besides the supply of food stuff they have not shown concern in any other matters like clothes, bedding and books. And it has been sometime now that their supply of rations has been stopped. The hostel warden and the school authority is now concerned about how and where they are to spend the winter vacation until they can come back to school next year February.
Winter is a season of celebration for two reasons, one for passing the exam and another for the birth of Jesus to save us. And it is the young ones who really long for this season to come. Because children alone knows the joy of these celebrations. Grown-up only give advice and never understand anything by themselves. But now their silence has hurt more than words. Of all the creations, human is the most special creations of God. Therefore we cannot take human life for granted. The responsible persons as well as the society need to look into it in a more responsible manner. So that the purpose of providing quality education would be fulfilled and this noble act would be appreciated by God and men. Moreover these young children will also remember the happy stay here. And when they go back home they will be able to reflect towards their society through the knowledge and education they acquired here. Let us not forget that ‘well begun is half done’.
Honthing & T’chon
Ukhrul District
