By Yarangchang Imchen (EMN)
Late J.N. Aier was the son of the richest person from Yajang village. Late J. N Aier is the father of Dr. N. Benjongliba Aier (current parliamentary Secretary from 30th Alongtaki A/C). J. N Aier’s father was once the richest man among the Aos’ (this account was published in Ao Milen in the year 1937 by Peter who was a resident of Impur). Being the son of a rich father, yet J.N. Aier was humble, disciplined and a God fearing person who understood the needs of the people and who was helpful to his parents at that time. Following the footsteps of his father, J.N. Aier did so many commendable works for the upliftment of the society. It was once asked to him, “your father was rich and he had helped the poor and the needy with his wealth without any hesitation, like your father had done good deeds to the people, what have you done for the people and who deserve to be the best?” He answered to the question; “my father had helped the poor because he was rich, but since I don’t have money my wisdom, knowledge and life was dedicated to the people”.
J.N Aier did his graduation from Guwahati University in the year 1949 as a B.A (HONS) in Education subject. He was also one of the first educated people among the Aos and a pioneer in the field of education. He was offered a job by the government in Mokokchung S.D.O office, but was turned down. Again, he was offered to work as a teacher in Mangkolemba Government High school but was not accepted. Nagaland Education Director and Mokokchung DIS came to his native village personally along with the appointment order for the post of School Inspector and requested him to accept it. Since they came to village all the way from long distance, he accepted it under pressure and after serving for just only one year he quit the job. He had decided to live in his native village with the needy people despite having so many shortcomings. Why because? He did not search his life to become big, better status, and for the convenience of his life but, he had decided to work meagrely in one school in his village without salary. This was a great commitment, commission and a mission undertaken by him and his desire to serve his people selflessly. It was a mission accepted by him as a challenge to continue his father legacy by serving the poor and the needy unflinchingly. His father had served the people with his wealth but, J.N Aier along with his wealth together with his wisdom, knowledge, time, talent and all his life was fully dedicated and devoted to his people.
J.N. Aier was not only excelled in education but his love for music was clearly a remarkable milestone he had achieved during his lifetime and no doubt, he was the first pioneer in the field of music among the Aos. For the Aos in particular and the Nagas in general, singing a song is part and parcel of Nagas life as an amusement since time immemorial. Hence, without it something is incomplete and missing in Nagas culture. Be it cultural dance, tribal or clan lineage and social history everything was handed down from one generation to another by singing a song (song portray story) or through oral tradition. In this time of assimilation, the concept and the presentation of song was very important. But with the arrival of Christianity in Nagaland (1872 in Ao areas) the indigenous song sung by the non believers through cultural dance, folklores tale through singing had lost its significance. Now, the new concept of singing a song was started prior to the teaching and introducing of new song. In the meantime, some Ao Christians started to compose the new faith (Christianity) song in the tune of our great ancestors and used to sing it. As time passed by, the English song was converted to Ao dialect(Chungli) with Staff Notation(SN) but it was sang by Tonic Sol-fa tune only because SN was not properly learned those days. It was during this juncture that, J.N Aier expressed his opinion and displeasure about the Aos being lacking behind with others. He was a person who took care of his music seriously with love, passion and was the person among the Aos to take up music with curiosity of new innovation and thinking. He was indebted for learning and teaching the music of Staff Notation properly and rightly, he was the first person among the Aos to achieve that fete.
When he was studying at Impur Mission School from class 1 to class 5 (1932-37) Suplee the American missionary who lived in Kohima used to visit Impur often and teach the song to them. J.N Aier to his credit had learned so many songs without wasting of any time. Due to his keen interest in learning Staff Notation (SN), he requested headmaster Mayangnokcha to let him go and continue his studies in Kohima, the place where Suplee was living. During those days, right after passing out class 6 they go to Jorhat Mission School for further studies. But unfortunately, there was no class 7 in Kohima Mission School at that time. As per his request, the Missionary after discussing the issue had opened class 7 in the year 1938. When he was studying in Kohima, vizol (the former chief minister of Nagaland) was his contemporary. Vizol was very caring and kind hearted and fond of J.N Aier because of his good personality. Due to his unmatched climatic condition he felt ill and as per the advice of the doctors he was shifted to Jorhat Mission School and studied there.
During his schooling days he had his best friend from Longsa village none other than N.I Jamir(former chief secretary and minister of Nagaland). Both of them had spent together in yajang village during holidays as for N.I Jamir, it was a long journey to travel to his native village Longsa from Jorhat. After both of them had departed from schooling, while serving at various capacities both of them kept a good rapport and friendship till their last breath. It was told that whenever J. N Aier fell ill, N.I Jamir used to visit him and sometimes sent doctors along with medicines for check up.
J.N Aier had served in various capacities and was the founding member of various NGO’s. He was the founding member of JKM along with his colleagues in the year 1947, where the first conference was held in Yajang village. In the year 1940, when the Ao Students conference was held at Nokpu village, through his initiatives, he invited all the village councils from Japukong and briefed about the need of a common platform for Japukong people. Hence, in the year 1941, the first Japukong Mungdang (Japukong conference) was held at Lirmen village. He was also once the magazine editor of ‘Mezung Sangwa’ in 1960’s. He had also served as a choir master in 1960 at Impur. The syllabus of class A, B and class I, II mathematical book was written and published by him with his own expenses and distributed it freely without any cost. After more than 20 years, when he was serving as a headmaster at Impur Clark Memorial High School, he published a book on Staff Notation and started to teach among the Aos. This time also, he published this book with his own expenses and distributed it for free. Under his leadership, the Japukong road was also constructed and the first commercial shop was established.
He was also actively involved in the Naga National Movement (NNC) during the height and peak of the Naga struggle for independence. In the year 1946, June 20-21 the first NNC meeting was held. For interpretation among the various tribes J.N Aier was chosen from Japukong range as a lone interpreter and attended the meeting. The NNC vice president Imkongmeren and J.N Aier used to meet and discussed several issues pertaining to the welfare of the people. Both of them had agreed to work each other and serve the people ‘underground and over ground’ respectively. It was through their initiatives that so many intentional conflicts were avoided during the times of myth and misconceptions, superstitious omens, mistrust and misinformation among the Naga brothers. With all these initiatives, works and achievements during his lifetime, he was given the title of ‘Japukong Walunir’.
Like his father, J.N Aier had served the people with what he had in his possession. What he had inherited from his father was not only the wealth but his willingness and zeal to commit his life for the people. All throughout his days, his life was not only for himself but for the cause of the people.
Though, J.N Aier is no more with us on this earth yet, to his name and credit the Ebenezer prayer home at Alongtaki was constructed by NASSED. Also, the J.N Aier students’ complex at Longchem stands proudly. J.N Aier excellence award in the field of education is also initiated in honour of our late soul whereby, the meritorious students’ fetes during the function of JKM held triennially. The J. N Aier College in Dimapur and the J.N Aier residential school in Yajang village are some of the institutions under operating under his name.
J.N Aier’s good deed and good work and his service to the people were very well known to the people. During my days as a student, I heard a lot about him. I always had the passion and desire to meet him, but couldn’t. It was lucky enough for me to meet him in the year 2012, when I was going to my village Lirmen for a meeting. When I saw him I was delighted at once. J.N Aier in his late 90’s was very smart, active and interactive and his smiling face was another charisma that showed his inner persona. I was really blessed.
To sum up; Late J.N Aier was a great leader who undertook the duty of serving people as a challenge and who wished to stay away from the comfort zone and decided to live with his people with simplicity, despite being already a son to a rich father. His good works, determinations, dedications, hardworking and his zeal to serve the people is what people will remember him to the succeeding generations.
