Advisor for Water Resources Tongpang Ozukum underscores importance of documenting the Ozukum clan’s origins.
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50th Aoli Ozüküm Mundang
MONGSENYIMTI — The two-day 50th Aoli Ozüküm Mundang (Ozukum Clan Conference) held at Mongsenyimti village, Mokokchung district, on the theme “Jenjangyongshi” (Strengthening holistic foundations across all spheres of life), concluded on Friday.
The quinquennial conference drew over 300 delegates representing 16 villages under Mokokchung district, along with invitees from the Longkhim Chare Mongzarü Union (a clan affiliated with Sangtam) and various Ao villages.
Tongpang Ozukum, Advisor for Water Resources and inaugural guest on January 22, emphasised the conference's key goal is to deepen understanding of the clan's roots among youth and elders, fostering unity and a sense of family among the Ozukum clan across Ao villages.
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Highlighting the critical importance of meticulously documenting the clan’s origins, he appealed to clan researchers and scholars to undertake rigorous and comprehensive studies. He further urged the clan’s research committee to present their findings at the earliest opportunity.
The advisor also recommended that the Ozukum clan office institute a system to formally recognise and honour outstanding achievers in academics and diverse professional domains.
Noting the presence of numerous educated young clan members aspiring to succeed in competitive examinations, Ozukum proposed that the clan organise motivational lectures and interactive sessions featuring accomplished individuals, thereby inspiring greater resolve and determination among aspirants.
Expressing grave concern over the declining clan population—which he warned could precipitate the extinction of the clan in certain villages—he called upon the conference to treat the preservation of the clan’s lineage with utmost seriousness.
He exhorted the younger generation to embrace and proudly uphold their clan surname with dignity and honour.
Aowati Ozukum, vice president of the Ao Senden, reinforced these sentiments by underscoring that depopulation represents one of the most formidable challenges confronting the Ao tribe today, profoundly impacting numerous villages and towns in Mokokchung district.
He observed a seismic paradigm shift characterised by large-scale migration to other districts and urban centres in pursuit of superior opportunities, coupled with declining marriage and birth rates among the contemporary generation. These trends, he noted, are precipitating a cascading demographic crisis for the Ao people.
Khumpise Mongzar of Mongzar Union, Longkhim Chare, stated the Mongzar and Ozukum clans are historically the same, with the Ozukum clan's presence felt beyond Ao villages and tribal boundaries.
The new team of office bearers for the tenure 2026-30 are: president - Supongramok (Mongsenyimti); vice president - Moasunep Ozukum (Molungkimong); general secretary - Imrongsungba Ozukum (Mopungchuket); assistant general secretary - Tiaakum Ozukum (Waromung); finance secretary - Bendangtoshi Ozukum (Yimjenkimong) and treasurer - S Imtichizung (Mongsenyimti)