Speech by Tenucho on the Occasion of Unveiling Monolith at Diphupar ‘B’

I am humbled to be here with you on this historic occasion of Diphupar ‘B’ Village Founder Monolith Stone unveiling ceremony in honour of Vesayi Rosetso.

I convey my deepest appreciation to Shri. Kahuto N Chishi V.C.C Diphupar ‘B’ Village, all the Village Council Member, public leaders and the people of Diphupar ‘B’ village for taking the unanimous decision in naming Vesayi Rosetso as the founder of Diphupar ‘B’ Village. Your wise and exemplary decision will go on to inspire many generation to come. It conveys the importance of self-sacrifice for public cause.

I personally knew Vesayi Rosetso S/o Mühazhü Rosetso, he was born in Phesachodu village under Phek District. My acquaintance with him started way back during the sixties when we studied in the same school. He was a good friend, a man of courage, determination and self dedicated for public causes.

When Vamuzo Phesao was the Chief Minister of Nagaland in 1990, Vesayi Rosetso came with a proposal for recognition of Diphupar ‘B’ Village. In this connection I want to put it in record that my friend Khekiho Zhimomi was then a Member of Legislative Assembly representing Ghaspani 1 Assembly Constituency and a cabinet minister in Vamuzos’ Ministry while I was the Speaker of the Assembly. We discussed about the recognition of few villages in Dimapur including Diphupar ‘B’ Village where I personally asserted the necessity for the recognition of this village to accommodate people who don’t have a place to live. I am thankful to God that the cabinet unanimously recognised Diphupar ‘B’ Village in the year 1992 on 22nd January.

Once, Vesayi Rosetso told me that he had reserved a prime location in this village for me to build my house but I declined his generous offer saying that it should be given to those people who needed it more than I do.

On this occasion, let me remind you that every Naga village is sovereign in nature and democratic in character. We decide the fate of the village, our decision based on equality and natural justice. We don’t talk about who come first or later, instead whoever settles in the village is given equal opportunity. There are excellent virtues and customs in Naga society. We should explore them and make them our ideals for development and peaceful co-existence. It is our responsibility to practice the good cultural values of our ancestors and also to share them with others. Why wait for the government to tell us what to do and how to live? Our people have excellent systems of self-governance. The idea of local self-governance known as Village Council and Village Development Board is not borrowed from other civilizations or developmental models. It is native to us. Our own Vamuzo Phesao, former Chief Minister of Nagaland, visualized it and made it a reality. Even the concept of Local Area Development Program was the initiative and vision of Vamuzo Phesao. Today each and every Member of Parliament is getting ample amount of money annually for the development of their respective constituencies. Now the Government of India has borrowed these models of decentralization and development to build a strong Indian society. From where did he get these concepts and visions? From our traditional values and institutions. What I am trying to say is this: there is so much good to explore and inculcate from our ancestors, from our traditional ways of life. They are especially important for building a strong community. Let us cultivate them and share them with one another in order to build a strong community in this village. Let us inculcate the spirit of sharing and unity to become role models to encounter the forces of division and groupism which are destroying our society today.

In contrast to our traditional values of common ownership and a sense of belongingness, our contemporary society has developed a tendency to become selfish. For instance, we should realize that if someone clears a competitive exam, he or she has been selected to serve the entire state or nation, not just the particular community they belong to. On the contrary, that particular community or village should be proud of producing one successful person to serve the larger Naga community. This is actually the culture of the Nagas. Leaders used to put the interests of others over and above their personal interests including those of their clans or villages. Sacrifice was synonymous with leadership. I wish and pray that this will be the attitude of this village – that you will produce several leaders in diverse fields who can rise above petty matters and work for the common good based on Christ’s principles in the days to come.