KT Sukhalu addressing the public during the
Tsüngkamnyo-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival in Pungro town on Thursday.
DIMAPUR — Advisor
of Food and Civil Supplies and Metrology, KT Sukhalu, has appealed to build a
strong united Naga community and cautioned against allowing false division. He
added that a community must be the architect of their own destiny as they look
forward to the future and think about prosperity and progress.
He stated this on the second day of Tsungkamnyo-cum-Mini
Hornbill Festival, which is being celebrated at Yimkhiung Heritage in Pungro
under Kiphire district on Thursday as the special guest. The festival was
hosted by S Kiusumew, advisor of Home Guard and Civil Defence, Fire and
Emergency Services.
Sukhalu stated that Tsüngkamnyo festival is a time to
celebrate community and the cultural heritage of the people. Stating that it is
an apt time to reflect on the meaning of community, he asserted that Nagas as a
community have coexisted together through the ages and must continue with the
same spirit as brothers and sisters, stated a DIPR report.
“We must look to the future and think about prosperity and
progress. We as a community must be the architect of our own destiny,” he said.
Underlining the importance of history and tradition, Sukhalu
stated that it is not just about festivals, tradition attire and customs but
culture is rooted in the village ethos, an ethos marked by community, shared
experience and generosity. He said that festivals are marked with the
participation of everyone in songs, dances and feasts by all tribes.
He, therefore, urged the gathering not to allow false division
in the community but to build a bigger and stronger united Naga community.
The advisor maintained that education has become more
important than ever in this age of fast paced change, where nothing is
guaranteed.
“It is increasingly important to not only be educated and
get degree, but one must now have technical skills to be successful or even to
gain employment,”
he added.
He asserted that there are millions of highly educated
people, who would be competing for the same jobs and resources. In this regard,
he advised the youth to work hard with determination and dedication. At the
same time, he advised the parents to instill the values of integrity and
discipline to their children to enable them achieve success in life.
Stressing on misinformation and fake news, he said one of
the bigger dangers that the people are facing lately is misinformation. While
maintaining that misinformation has always existed, he said it is especially
dangerous now with the widespread use of social media.
“With artificial intelligence and malicious groups
generating false information, we must be cautious about what we choose to
believe and spread. A solid foundation of our knowledge in education will
enable us to discern the real news from the fake news, so that we do not get carried
away by every clip or message we get on social media.
“We cannot be successful if we are easily misled, we cannot
become leaders if we blindly follow trends and gossip. If Nagas are to decide
our own future, we must be spiritually and intellectually strong,” the advisor
said.
During the celebration, Laji Luyanba, YTC general secretary,
delivered the welcome address.
Short speech was delivered by NY Chobachang, CKS president,
as tribal guest, while the Sangphur village and Tsuyola performed cultural
items.
