Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APRIL 28
A mammoth gathering of civil society braving the scorching heat of Dimapur on Thursday, April 28, received Nagaland’s Chief Minister T.R.Zeliang and accorded him tributes for bringing laurels to the state for his winning an award called “lifetime achievement award in transformation,” conferred on him during the 6th Global Leadership Awards that was held at the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana in Indonesia on the 23rd.
The civic reception was organized by the Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) with 30 organizations receiving the chief minister at the airport.
Flattered by the grand civic reception and especially for that the Naga Hoho and the ENPO had come together to organise the event on his arrival, the politician called the episode ‘a good sign of Naga society walking together.’
Talking to the gathering on his winning the award, T.R.Zeliang said that he was ‘taken by surprise’ on receiving an invitation from Bali to receive the award and ‘had lots of questions going through his mind on how and why he deserved such “prestigious” award. He went on to say that he was ‘astounded on his selection to receive the award.’ Nagaland was a very small state compared to other states of the country, he explained.
Not convinced with the call he received, Zeliang said that after going through the credentials of the organisation he gave his acknowledgement to receive the award. At the award ceremony, although various categories of awards were given. The lifetime achievement award was given to only three personalities, the other two being an American professor and the second, the speaker of Indonesian Parliament, besides his-self, Zeliang explained.
Zeliang disclosed that the award was ‘conferred on being the leader of a state that was a trouble torn states passing through many turbulent situations, for having secured 100% votes during the assembly’s confidence motion floor test and for shouldering an opposition less government which is first of its kind in a democratic country.’
“I share this award with the people of Nagaland, all who have struggled against all odds to work for peace, stability and better society. In my years of political career I have learned to accept all kinds of challenges but never lost my vision of working for public service,” said T.R.Zeliang.
The gathering, he said, has manifested the solidarity and unity “among us.”
Zeliang also highlighted his interactions with the princess, who is also the advisor to the king of Abu Dhabi and the Prince of Malaysia, for investment in the Act East Policy of the north east region. The princess is said to have promised to visit Nagaland ‘to assess the ground realities and take the partnership further.’
“I am deeply indebted to the American Leadership Development Association and the Leaders International for giving me the prestigious lifetime achievement in transformation and recognizing a Naga leader and the political graph of my career and its contribution in bringing positive changes in society. Let us work together to bring permanent peace, better understanding, development and progress to our land”, Zeliang concluded.
The president of the Naga Hoho, Chuba Ozukum, also spoke during the event. He drew attention to the civic reception jointly with the ENPO. He explained that the event was organized in consultation with various organizations ‘even after criticisms from some few individuals.’ This, he said, was a time to shoulder responsibilities ‘to honour our leader for bringing laurels.’
“One has to struggle in his profession then only be prepared to receive an award and our CM has suitably received the reward” said Ozukum.
Ozukum appealed to the chief minister to ‘continue with his efforts in the establishing a better society.’
The ENPO’s president Khoiwang Konyak also remarked that although the eastern areas had their share of despair, the day’s event had turned out to be a remarkable day for the Naga society. The chief minister’s achievement was in itself a pointer to optimism that the politician would continue to work for the uplift of the Naga and the Naga society to live in unity.
The advisor to the Naga Mothers’ Association, Rose Mary, also lauded T.R Zeliang on behalf of her organization and Naga women. She expressed the view that the event was an eye-opener for the Naga society. She offered the premise of the ‘world observing’ the Naga political struggle to butress her comment. Under the leadership of Zeliang, she said, womenfolk can now ‘expect lots of changes’ and that they would also look forward to a society that would have finally rejected gender discrimination.
Local legislators, district administrators, and various community and civil entities besides well-wishers gathered at the airport to welcome the Zeliang at his arrival.
