Diezephe village celebrates its golden jubilee as Hekani Jakhalu and Kropol Vitsu stress unity, heritage and development
Hekani Jakhalu calls for unity and reconciliation; Kropol Vitsu stresses traditional governance and planned infrastructure
DIMAPUR — Diezephe village, Chümoukedima district, celebrated its golden jubilee at the village ground on Thursday on the theme “Honouring Our Past, Building Our Future,” with Advisor for Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, and Advisor for Prisons, Printing and Stationery, Kropol Vitsu, attending as special guests.
The celebration also featured the unveiling of the village’s golden jubilee monolith.
Addressing the gathering, Jakhalu described the occasion as a momentous day for Diezephe, saying the willingness of the people to come together as one had made the celebration beautiful and successful.
She said that while a village jubilee was an occasion for celebration, it was equally important for love to remain deeply rooted within the community.
She expressed hope that visitors learning about Diezephe’s history would recognise it as a special village where unity and love prevailed despite past hardships.
Jakhalu said a jubilee should not be viewed merely as a worldly celebration but also as an opportunity for introspection, reformation and spiritual renewal.
She appealed to villagers to resolve outstanding land disputes and grievances during the jubilee, urging them to set aside past misunderstandings and tensions and move forward with renewed relationships.
WATCH MORE:
She also encouraged the community to uphold the spirit of unity, forgiveness and reconciliation beyond the celebrations.
Highlighting Diezephe’s work ethic and craftsmanship, Jakhalu described the villagers as hardworking people who earned their livelihoods through traditional skills such as handloom weaving and woodcraft.
She said the Department of Industries & Commerce would aim to develop Diezephe comprehensively as a designated craft and tourist village. Promoting craft village tourism, she added, could bring meaningful development to the area.
Advisor Vitsu honours village pioneers
In his address, Vitsu said Diezephe had reached a significant milestone with the golden jubilee celebration and urged villagers to remember and honour the pioneers who had sacrificed their time, energy and resources to establish the village.
Reflecting on Diezephe’s development, he recalled that government officials and visitors once faced difficulties reaching the village because of rough and muddy roads.
However, he said improvements in infrastructure, connectivity and overall development had transformed Diezephe into a flourishing settlement.
Vitsu also highlighted the importance of consensus-based traditional village governance in Nagaland. Contrasting it with the party-based electoral system practised in many parts of mainland India, he said political competition could sometimes create bitterness, divisions and conflicts among neighbours.
He cautioned that introducing divisive party politics into Diezephe’s village administration could lead to infighting and undermine the community’s unity.
He stressed the importance of preserving traditional practices based on consensus and customary understanding.
Vitsu also spoke about land ownership and the protection of indigenous rights in Nagaland, referring to the Nagaland Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Act of 1978 and Article 371A of the Constitution.
He said land and resources were central to the identity and autonomy of the Naga people and stressed the importance of safeguarding indigenous rights.
On village development, Vitsu stressed the need for Diezephe to adopt a proactive master plan, particularly for road infrastructure.
He said village roads should be wide, straight and properly demarcated to accommodate future growth and ensure orderly development.
He also expressed concern over the growing number of organisations and unions, stating that their proliferation often resulted in frequent meetings and repeated demands for collections, donations and taxes. Such practices, he said, placed financial and mental pressure on ordinary citizens and businesses.
Vitsu called for a more balanced approach, emphasising the need to ensure that the activities of organisations did not become an undue burden on the public.
Earlier, village council chairman, Vezota Chüzho delivered the welcome address.
The programme also featured special presentations by Methaneilie Jütakhrie Solo and choir performance by the Diezephe Jubilee Choir.