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DIMAPUR — Former Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir on Friday said that in today’s world of the Nagas, ‘distance lends charm in the scene but as one gets nearer, the ugly spots become clearly visible, and the euphoria evaporates, yielding place to the harsh and unpalatable reality’.
He was addressing the 3rd convocation of St. Joseph University at Ikshe Model village in Chümoukidema on March 15, where as many as 1200 graduating students -- postgraduate and undergraduate -- received their degrees.
While maintaining that the knowledge and skill they have received at the university would serve them well to create an identity for themselves as well as make their alma mater proud, he advised the gathering ‘to grow and let others grow, rise and let other rise, and compete and let others compete on a fair field’.
“People of the first generation fostered and natured creativity but today's stiff competition encompasses the concept ‘first I’ never others. There is in fact nothing wrong in ‘first I’ but it should be ‘first I and with me others like me’,” he told the graduating students.
Knowledge is wealth
Asserting that the present society is living in a knowledge economy and terming knowledge as wealth, he said knowledge and information revolution has changed many priorities and made revolutionary changes in developmental matrix.
“The managers of the future have to learn to ride the crest of the wave. They have to be aware of the knowledge of gap and overcome it through acquisition, absorption and communication of knowledge,” he stated.
Pointing out that children today are more aware of the changing world and tech savvy, the former CM said that it is imperative for teachers to constantly upgrade their understanding of children's interests and advances in technology in order to stay relevant and effective in classroom.
Furthermore, he told the gathering to remember that, to be truly prosperous they must learn to give and learn to receive.
On Naga political issue
Jamir also touched upon the Naga issue, saying that after years of a bloody and costly political struggle fired by high ideals and expectations of a generation gone by, the Nagas of this generation find themselves at the cross roads, not sure what the future holds.
He said that at this critical juncture, ‘it is incumbent on all Nagas to shed emotions and idealism of the past and apply their collective wisdom in arriving at a solution that is cognizant of contemporary realities in India and the world and without this, sacrifices made by the predecessors over six decades of struggle might end up in smoke’.
He added that they should take note of the last six decades of political struggle having rendered sufficient experience and lessons to the Naga public, in general and their leaders, in particular.
The world is more like a global village today and the inexorable assault of modern scientific discoveries is further reducing the physical, intellectual and mental distances between people across the world, he said, adding that leaders, including the leadership of Naga political groups could be awake and aware of these epoch-making changes that are sweeping the world.
Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima Diocese and Pro Chancellor of SJU, delivered the keynote address and Prof. Charles Mhonthung Ezung, Dean of the Student Affairs, delivered the vote of thanks at the convocation programme.