Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 29 (EMN): Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, Y Patton on Saturday stressed on the need for the young generation to excel in studies and to develop a positive work culture.
He was addressing the Kohima Lotha Students' Union (KLSU) 50 years jubilee celebration at Naga Solidarity Park in the state capital.
He told the students to know when to use gadgets and ensure that it doesn’t hamper their studies.
Patton told the gathering to give priority to one's local dialect and preserve tradition and culture passed on by the forefathers.
While reminding that the pioneers of KLSU had struggled while starting the union, he advised the students to strive and continue to be the torchbearers and work for the uplift of the union and the community.
The deputy CM also advised the students to be serious in their studies and encouraged them write competitive exams.
Exposing the theme of the jubilee, Dr. Abemo, Registrar of Nagaland University, HQ Lumami, pointed out that everyone needs to be involved in charting out a common future.
He highlighted the United Nations 1987 declaration which termed a common future as a sustainable development to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.
He expounded that the common future, as the term indicated, involved every individual.
‘In charting a common future, there are no spectators; everyone will have to be involved according to one's own capacity and one's own ability,’ said Abemo.
He also pointed out the challenges of a common future from global perspective like globalisation, environmental degradation, religious intolerance and inequality; and also challenges like nepotism, corruption, over taxation and extortion from local Naga perspective.
He added that despite all these challenges, ‘you and I, young and old, everybody has to accept the challenge and start charting out a common future together’.
Meanwhile, he lauded the principals and faculties affiliated to Nagaland University for their commitment towards Higher Education, in true spirit of quality education to make offline examinations happen.
"If you don't work hard, if you don't learn what you study, paper degree is not going to help you anymore," he said.
Abemo also told the students to work hard, study hard and be self reliant; be educated and be productive in the society.
While laying emphasis on skill development, he said the present Government of India is emphasising more on it.
Further, he said that for success, there are only two things – discipline and hard work. ‘There is no substitution to it,’ he added.
Earlier, Convenor of Steering Committee, Nchumthung Kikon delivered the welcome address; brief history of the KLSU highlighted by Benri Ezung, the president of the union in 1992-93; and greetings shared by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Lotha Students’ Union (LSU).
Other highlights of the programme included presidential address by Lirhonthung E Kithan, and special prayer for the students by Rev. Dr. Benry Lotha, Senior Pastor, Kohima Lotha Baptist Church (KLBC). Zuchobeni Tungoe, Kohima Lotha Baptist Church and Yentsso Von also sang at the event.
Y Patton earlier unveiled the jubilee plaque and Rev. Mhathung Lotha, Missionary At-large, KLBC, dedicated.