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Rev. Dr. Wati Aier has been awarded the annual A Kevichusa Citizenship Award 2019 presented by the Kevichusa Foundation.[/caption]
Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 30 (EMN): The founder of Oriental Theological Seminary and convenor of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) Rev. Dr. Wati Aier was awarded the annual ‘A Kevichusa Citizenship Award 2019’ presented by the Kevichusa Foundation on Sat. Nov. 30.
The reverend was recognised for his contribution to the society, with the Kevichusa Foundation recognising him as a Naga hero, and an embodiment of true Naga citizenship.
Aier was presented with a citation and a cash award of INR three lakh at a ceremony that was conducted at the Don Bosco campus in Dimapur.
In his acceptance speech, the reverend remarked, “History lives and breathes and Naga history was no exception. Every history has its memories from where the present generations find inspiration.” He acknowledged that among the few, in his own generation, the late A Kevichusa was a legend in the story of the Naga people and to receive the A Kevichusa Citizenship Award was an honour.
Aier was assertive as he said, “I remain convinced that our society needs theological people beyond academic degrees alone—to be movers, shakers and transformers of our society and culture and to exorcize the theological demons of romanticism and accommodative typologies.” He said, at the heart of education is empowerment and in context this is all about promoting and learning about young minds and sincerely being proud of them without the feeling of insecurity.
Aier believed that the Naga identity needs transformation through forgiveness, healing and peace and this he believed was a mark of their faith in Christ.
The FNR, he said, was a collective ministry of young and senior Nagas who believe there is no future without forgiveness. In this line he implored the people to shun immediately the fallacy that seeking forgiveness was a sign of weakness.
“Seeking forgiveness should be the greatest power of the Nagas at this moment. By not forgiving, are we not destroying the thing we all wanted,” he said. He pointed out that each Naga group constitutes boundaries and perceptions of fear, pride and hatred and this was bound to curb the people’s embrace for belonging.
Further, Aier acknowledged that the FNR had its share of ups and downs, and as finite beings, the forum has stumbled, making some unhappy in the process. “We continue to learn that the ministry of peace requires patience, hope and faith and these elements are a Naga musical composition of deep conviction of imagination before actuality.’
Further, the annual “Chalie Kevichusa Memorial lecture” was delivered by former executive director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Asia-Pacific) Ltd., LT Jeyachandran.
Jeyachandran emphasised on the “importance of togetherness,” asserting that unity is greater than uniformity and that unity is a distinction for harmony.
According to Jeyachandran, unity is possible only in diversity and the “otherness was the distinction.”
“In our togetherness we bring something unique which cannot be achieved as an individual and humility, unity and unanimity comes with togetherness.”
Emphasising on the Gospel, the speaker opined that there was otherness in the being of God and the Bible was the only book where otherness comes in “stark contrast” and that even diversity was made by God. It is in otherness which makes life meaningful, Jeyachandran said.