Former bureaucrat K Khekiye Sema gets ‘peace award’

[caption id="attachment_154707" align="alignnone" width="550"] Khekiye K Sema receiving the Peace Award of Peace Channel from Sushil Kumar during the of Youth Peace Knit Fest 2017 in Dimapur.[/caption] Dimapur, Dec. 13 (EMN): Anti-corruption activist K Khekiye Sema has been honoured by a community capacity-development organisation during a youth conclave on Dec. 13 in Dmr. The event at which the former government official was given the recognition—simply mentioned “peace awardee”—was the second day of Youth Peace Knit Fest, a press release from the organisers informed on Wed. The programme was organized by Peace Channel, the updates stated. Details about the award and effects of the bequest for the advisor to the Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (Acaut) were not elaborated in the press release. The programme was a collaborative event with other organisations including the North East Zone Cultural Zone (NEZCC). The deputy commissioner of Dimapur Sushil Kumar Patel was the chief guest; joint director of the NEZCC Tali Nokcha was the guest of honour at the event. Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the bishop of Kohima, was the special guest, the updates informed. “On this occasion, Khekiye K Sema, IAS (retd.) advisor, Acaut, was awarded the Peace Award of Peace Channel,” the press release stated. Khekiye K Sema was quoted in the press release as warning against pride and greed, among others. He said: “From the beginning of the political theories, it talks about selfish being.” The updates stated: “We Nagas have a common problem of ego selfishness, greed and lack of humanity. Being conscious of the basic quality in life which is Happiness and Peace, he lamented that discord in the community life is difficult without the fulfilment of basic needs...sometimes it’s necessary to fight war for peace where history said that.” Sushil Kumar also addressed the event. Speaking as the chief guest said, “When we make peace, we conquer the hearts of our enemy,” the administrator was quoted as having said during the programme. “Being concerned of the growth of the nation as a whole, he said that violence in a particular state affects the rest of the states. He also exhorted the student participants he said that to maintain discipline and responsibilities for a peaceful society.” Kumar was also stated to have encouraged the students and youths to focus on their career “to overcome the obstacles and challenges for a greater perspective.” Likewise the bishop of Kohima James Thoppil, understood to have spoken at the event, said: “Peace is not the absence of war but peace comes from different ways. To bring certain change in the society, peace, personal growth and development brings the wholeness in life.” He concluded by saying never to be discouraged because of the challenges and struggles, the updates said. NEZCC official Tali Nokcha was also quoted in the updates as having said that ‘being impatient’ was ‘due to the lack of understanding’ between the individual and the society. “As a student should be patient and manage the time to succeed”. He said that one should ask help from God, because without God we will never be able to achieve good things in life. As peace activist it is required to motivate peace among all,” he was stated to have explained. More than 250 ‘student peace activists’ and special guests from across the state and the region attended the event, the updates added.