‘We need peace more than ever’

Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | September 23

On the day Setsülü Tetseo was born, her father was taken away as a political prisoner and later died in the prison. Her father was a “Rüna Peyu”, In charge of collecting food items from different khels in the village to feed the Naga Army.

“Those days, there was only one group- NNC,” Setsülü Tetseo reminisced while expressing, “ever since, I have been longing for peace in our land.”

When she came across the “Sing for Peace”, an initiative of The Morung Express under the theme “The Road to a Lasting Peace” in commemoration of International Day of Peace, it struck a chord with her. Growing up during the turbulent times in Nagaland, she felt the need to express her longing for peace through the initiative.

“I thought of how my father died for the Naga cause. But today, instead of peace and unity, we have so many factions and groups. When will we have peace?” she pondered while articulating that personally for her, it’s been more than 60 years now. After coming across “Sing for Peace”, one night, she asked God to help her. “It was midnight by the time I finished composing the song and our son, Mhaseve helped with the accompaniment,” she expressed.

She firmly believes that only God can bring peace even as she highlighted her prayer—“God, if it is your will, raise more groups but if not, may you dim them.” Today, she also pointed out that people are getting more educated and richer, “but we need peace more than ever.”

Setsülü Tetseo, 62 and her 67-year-old husband, Kevesho Tetseo were awarded in the “oldest participant” category for the song – Küzöküve Tsale (Song for Peace).

For Aren Jamir, whose song “Tesunep Milen” (Lamp of Peace) was declared overall winner, peace starts with the individual. Stating that people often think peace is something only some big groups/organisations can bring, he asserted that it starts from within. “We should feel good in whatever we do, in any walk of life, and only when we feel good, we will have peace,” he explained. Further citing an instance, he said, peace starts “when somebody’s pen has fallen and you pick it up and give it to that person- it is that kind of connection, that relationship, it’s all about respecting and accepting one another.”

The 30-year-old youth pastor did not have the luxury of time and was initially a bit hesitant to participate in the competition but eventually decided, “Let’s do it for peace!” He has fond memories to look back on, in the whole process of composing and making the video. Based out of Kangtsung village, which takes 15 minutes’ walk from Tuli, he recalled it was not the easiest of experiences having to wake up at 4:00 am on a particular day, and taking 20 shots to perfect one shot for the video.

“But I also wanted to give my best and the song is very special because it is all about peace,” he expressed. A lot of people clearly resonated with the winning entry even as they confessed that they have been playing it on loop, and have connected with the emotions in the song. He is elated to be an agent of peace through his participation in the initiative.

Aren Jamir, who started singing after matriculation, was also earlier nominated for the Musicians Guild Music Award in the Gospel Category. Out of 220 entries, he landed a spot in the Top 5.

26-year-old Melongsunep Longkumer, who was awarded for the “Best Lyrics” for the song, ‘Oh Shalom!’ felt that the platform he got was so huge and overwhelming while expressing that “it was a real-life rejuvenating experience for me.” He is currently pursuing 6th Grade in Music from The Calcutta School of Music.

Longkumer feels that peace is overrated just like love. “Love is overrated. Everyone knows about it. But we long for it. We search for it. And we get it sometimes,” he put across. Individually, he said, we have different ways to look at so called peace with different communities and people with different mindsets. “But at the same time, peace is something that we all need at this very moment,” he acknowledged.

Oh Shalom!

The war has stopped but enmity remains
The peace treaty’s been signed
Yet there is bloodshed
Where is peace? 

Oh peace! 
Peace that springs from the depths of love
Peace that’s rooted in forgiveness
Jesus the prince of peace
Let him rule over your heart
His peace will reign 
over us

Oh Shalom! 

I can hear the gunshots
My heart yearns for peace
Yet my vision gets hazy
I lament for the precious lives lost

Oh peace

I hear the sounds of laughter
The wolves and the sheep live in harmony
The cattle grazes with the lions
Yes the voices of war will cease
And all will live in peace

Oh peace 

Song written, composed and sung by Melongsunep Longkumer won the ‘Best Lyrics’ in the Sing For Peace competition. This is the English translated version.