Temshinaro
DIMAPUR, APRIL 20
History always have a story to tell. Some proud moments while some are teary pasts but one common past of the yester years always involved hard days and devoted life as in a state like Nagaland, no men had the freedom of achieving anything positive with stipulations from various groups in the state.
Fazl Ali College (FAC) like any other pioneering institute with years of struggles has harvested the seed sown by the farsighted pioneers of the college.
The journey of Fazl Ali College started off during the late 1950’s when the matriculate students of the state could not go for higher studies due to financial constraints.
An extract from the FAC, Celebrating Fifty Glorious Years (1959-2009), souvenir mentions that a steering committee consisting of 19 members was constituted with Supongnuklu as President. . The extract also states about the origin of the college name. Page 67 of the souvenir mentions that the committee agreed among its members to name the college after the then Governor of Assam, Sayd Fazl Ali. Former Chief Minister and the present Governor of Odisha S.C Jamir was one of the joint secretaries of the sub-committee to look for financial aid for the college. S. C Jamir in a short electronic interview highlighted some firsthand information about how the need to open the college actually started. He said, ‘ Naga underground movement was at its peak, the underground leadership decided to close down all schools in Ao area, and accordingly the underground issued strong ahza (order) towards this end. Besides closure, in some villages even the schools were burnt down by them.’
The Steering Committee after months of outlining the plan of opening an arts college, the citizens of Mokokchung district in aid of the proposal decided to give a serious thought on it. Hence the citizens decided to put in financial support towards the cause. The government employees contributed 10% of one month’s salary and 50 paisa per annum from each household. As mentioned in the golden jubilee souvenir of FAC, an amount of Rs. 30000 was collected. Adding to it, R.C Chiten approached Syed Fazl Ali, the then governor of Assam who conveyed a proposal of opening a night college in the district.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime minister of India who sanctioned a one time grant of
Rs. 40000 proved to be the financial foundation for the establishment of the college.
With an enrolment of 43 students and three teachers (including the Principal) in September 1959 the college sealed the history of Nagaland with FAC becoming the first college in the state.
Yes, during the early years the college had to undergo series of struggles with shortages of lecturers, no proper infrastructures and financial constraints but without losing hope the pioneers struggled to fight against all odds.
After few years of undertaking by individuals, the state government in the year 1963 finally decided to take over the college.
The genesis of the college has numerous stories to tell that connects all people from the government to the society and the dedicated students and teachers who have worked tirelessly during the early years marking a history that cannot be erased. The products brought out by the college over the years are also highly commendable who were assets in the society when the state most needed it.
The college which was founded years before the statehood day celebrated its 50 years of existence in the year 2009. The Fazl Ali Students Union celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the year 2012 while in the year 2008 the college marked its 25 years of existence for Science stream.
With a campus measuring 84 acres of land the college offers Science and Arts stream. The college has 8 well equipped laboratories and a college library that has thousands of books.
Located at Chuchuyimpang and Mokokchung village land, the college with motto “Academia Nulli Secundus” still stands strong and firm with its name put to fame by its alumni.
