Hindi Fortnight concludes in Kohima

Correspondent KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 26 Minister for Forests, Environment & Wildlife Dr. Neikesalie Nicky Kire today expressed concern that many people in the mainland India do not know about the people from the Northeast India, including Nagaland. “Our diversity should be a reason why we should have more unity among ourselves,” he said, while addressing the closing ceremony of the Hindi Fortnight observation here Friday at the State Academy Hall, Kohima as the chief guest. The minister called upon all the central government employees from other states who are posted in Nagaland to be the ambassadors of the state and the northeast when they go back to their respective home states. Stating that many people do not consider Nagas and people from the northeast states as Indians, he asked them to carry a message when they leave Nagaland and tell others about the people and the cultures of this part of India. Kire also congratulated the winners of various competitions held during the Hindi fortnight observation. Guest of honour of the occasion, parliamentary secretary for School Education, Yitachu exhorted the gathering that Hindi being the national language, Hindi teachers in the state have a mission to perform and give extra efforts in educating students to develop a fluency in the language. He said the department of school education is realizing the importance of Hindi and has taken the policies and programmes so that students may start learning the language from primary school levels. He also underscored the need to motivate teachers as well as those who aspire to pursue Hindi. Earlier, the accountant general (audit) Nagaland, A Pitoho Chophy delivered a brief speech while Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) Kohima chairman, Athikho Chalai read out the message of the Home Minister of India. The 12th annual Hindi magazine- ‘Naganchal’ was also released during the programme. The closing ceremony was followed by a cultural programme wherein the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, staff of central government offices of Kohima and the NEZCC Dimapur performed.