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Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire at a memorial programme in Kohima on May 15.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 15 (EMN): Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Naga matriculate, Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire, in the year 1918 from Shillong Government High School, his family members have announced one-time cash incentives to the toppers of HSLC 2018.
Announcing this at the memorial programme held at the family residence on May 15 commemorating 49th death anniversary and 100th year of Dr. Kire’s matriculation, former director general of police, K Kire informed that cash amount of INR 1 lakh will be awarded to the HSLC 2018 topper and INR 50,000 to Tenyidie topper from the state.
Further, it was also announced that INR 50,000 will be given to the topper from Kohima district constituted by the Kohima District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) for toppers from government schools. Kire also informed that INR 25,000 each will be given away to toppers from its adopted school Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire Government Higher Secondary School, Seikhazou; members from Kohima Village Students’ Union; and D Khel Kohima village.
It may be mentioned that Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire, popularly known as Dr. NK Angami born in 1900 in Kohima village, was the first matriculate from Nagaland in 1918 and obtained a Licentiate Medical practitioner (LMP) in 1922.
Dr. Kire worked in the Naga Hills under the then Deputy Commissioner, CR Pawsey and went on expeditions to Pangsha, Rotongre and Trans-Frontier as medical doctor and was the medical doctor caring for the wounded during the Second World War.
After World War II and 26 years of service to the government, Dr. Kire took voluntary retirement to care for the sick, who comes from far-off villages. He set the first pharmacy in Kohima in 1950, which still stands today located at D Block as ‘Neilhouzhü Memorial Clinic.’
Dr. Kire was also one of the founding members of the Kohima Science College in 1961, Kohima Arts College in 1967. He was also the first Kohima Town Committee vice-chairman from 1957-1966.
Besides endeavouring to bring education in the state by establishing schools and colleges, Dr. Kire also worked to spread the gospel in the Zeliang areas from 1920-1934.
Eldest granddaughter of Dr. Kire, Dr. Joyce Angami remembered her grandfather as a family man, energetic person, a strict disciplinarian, creative and innovative with full of wisdom. Other family members also spoke during the programme reminiscing on the life of their father.
After dedicating his life serving the people, Dr. Kire passed away from Jorhat Mission Hospital on May 15, 1969.