Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 8 (EMN): Have patience, humbleness and embrace unity, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation, G Kaito Aye told thousands of people gathered at The Naga Heritage in Kisama to celebrate Tuluni, premier festival of the Sumi community, on Friday.
Aye, who was also the Tuluni Papu (Tuluni father) at the event organised by the Kohima Sumi Hoho, lauded the Sumi Hoho for initiating the "Year of Reconciliation" (2022) and appealed to all to repent from sin, shed all differences, renew the mind and recommit toward peaceful coexistence, uphold brotherhood and unity.
‘Respect and acceptance is not achieved with brute force and malice but it is possible only with respect and a positive attitude toward others. Let us be genuine people and strive forward with a humble and compassionate mindset,’ he told the gathering.
He also urged the civil societies and individuals to put more effort in transforming the social economics, political reformation as well as conceding faults and past mistakes while celebrating festivals such as Tuluni.
Maintaining that adapting to the new positively is a challenge as times have changed, he advised the people to preserve culture and traditions by strengthening the community and society.
“Let us leave aside our pride and shed our ego. Let us bring back the dignity of labour, let us build our economy, strengthen our community; only then we as a people will grow,” he said.
He also encouraged the youth to recommit and strive harder to succeed as getting government job has become much harder due to stiff competition.
He went on to remind the youth about the schemes and programmes of the government in order to engage them in many avenues, especially in entrepreneurship, farming and allied activities. He encouraged those interested to avail these opportunities.
The minister advised the people to re-evaluate their position, renew and shed all differences to build a better, stronger, humble, peaceful and resourceful community.
“We are living in such a time where everything looks uncertain. Be it economy, social or political. But we cannot just stop living. Let us prepare ourselves, our children and our families. For only when a home is peaceful and sufficient, the community and the society is contented and whole,” he said.
Earlier in the programme, Khevito T Shohe, President of Kohima Sumi Hoho, delivered the welcome address. He informed that the Kohima Sumi Hoho was celebrating the Tuluni after the gap of seven years to commemorate the motto of Sumi apex tribal organisation, the Sumi Hoho which declared 2022 as the “Year of reconciliation” (Sümi Küqhakulu mpe).
He also appealed to the Sumi community to maintain good relations and peaceful co-existence among the tribes as well as with other communities.
The president went on to inform that as on May 30, 2022, there were 7, 419 Sumis under 19 sectors in Kohima.
Attended by Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies, LM & CP, Taxes department, Pukhayi Sumi and several other officials, the festival also saw several cultural items.