Healing garden takes root with vision for future generation, possibility of a new Nagaland

Naga Republic Feature

Pari Sanyü Meyasetsu introducing guests from Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, United States and Malta during the inauguration of the Healing Garden at Medziphema, Dimapur on January 27

Symbolic of returning back to his native Nagaland after the long years of travel and stay abroad and also setting a vision for the future with an expression of hope for future generations, Naga historian and peace activist Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu on January 27 finally announced to the world his initiative of opening a Healing Garden.

Besides family, friends, well wishers from Nagaland, the inauguration of the Healing Garden, located in Medziphema, saw guests from Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United States and Malta lending their support and solidarity. Climate Scientist from New Zealand Alan Porteus gave the inaugural address.

Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu sharing his vision for the Healing Garden

Sharing his vision for the Healing Garden Dr. Visier Sanyü, said he had always wanted to come back home after the long journey away. While acknowledging the opportunities that opened for him, Dr Visier also spoke about his painful experiences. The deaths of his siblings, especially his older brother who was a storyteller, a chanter, a repository of knowledge, broke his heart. Six nephews died of drug and alcohol abuse.

Expressing the desire to return home and give back something, he decided to make a healing garden to be enjoyed by generations to come. Also growing trees for future generations was the right thing to do, he said while expressing the hope that the healing garden will be a place for peace, tranquility, sharing and healing.

It may be mentioned that Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu was the first Head of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Nagaland. Currently he is the President of the Overseas Naga Association (ONA) and also member of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). He has addressed many forums across the world, including the United Nations.

Giving the inaugural address of the healing garden, Climate Scientist from New Zealand Alan Porteus termed climate change as the biggest environmental challenge of the day and said that “our way of living is damaging the world”. Pointing out that human kind cannot flourish without it, Porteus called for protecting the diversity of the natural world.

“We see that the climate of the planet we live on is changing. The air is getting warmer, and this means that ecological systems – the interaction between plants and animals and their environment – are struggling to adapt”.

Climate Scientist from New Zealand Alan Porteus giving the inaugural address

Alan also spoke about how the world is filling up with plastic and other chemical waste, making the environment toxic and endangering the lives of birds, animals and fish, and threatening global food security.

“One of the principles of an ecosystem – a natural biological system – is that it works best when all organisms, everything that lives in the garden, contribute to the health of all. We cannot flourish without this diversity”, he said while adding that the “Garden will demonstrate a world of transformation, where, like seeds that become flowers and fruit, great ideas are born and become the source of re-creation where everyone can flourish and contribute”.

Alan Porteus who is a climate scientist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand, hoped that the healing garden and the vision set forth by Dr. Visier would bring about the “possibility of a new Nagaland” and with that the possibility of a world that works for everyone.

“So just like this garden, which was first a dream, then a possibility, and has now become a reality, how do we create the possibility of a world that works for everyone, where we address all these challenges, and where everyone flourishes?”

On the other hand Alan Porteus was optimistic that the healing garden will be a place where the “experiment of integrity can take place, practicing being true to the best we know and encouraging others to do the same”.

“The Garden can be a world of listening not just to each other’s voices, and the sounds of nature, important as that is, but listening for how to restore the wounds and broken relationships of the past. Healing of the wounds of the land, and the wounds of the heart, go together”, he said.

Naga peace activist Niketu Iralu sharing his thoughts for the healing garden

Noted peace activist Niketu Iralu also shared his thoughts for the garden. “In Nagaland we are learning…exploring ideas for building a new world. The healing of our lives and rebuilding relationship is the most important responsibility”, he said and hoped that the healing garden will play its part.

Earlier in the programme, peace activist from Japan Megumi Kanematsu shared the emotional story of her association with the Naga people while expressing regret that the “Japanese took your home and culture and homeland in such a wrong way”.  “As my people caused suffering to your grandparents and parents, I can understand the pain that you have gone through. Because of the strength of your people, you are here today to pass on your rich culture, belief and faith to the next generation”, Megumi said.

Conveying to the Naga audience gathered that she had come to deliver greetings and respect to the Nagas from people in Japan, the Japanese elder also shared about how her journey to Nagaland was also about learning “how to face pain and move forward for the sake of the future”.

“The Japanese still don’t have the strength to put right where we went wrong”, she said while adding that “they (Japan) can learn from the strength of the Naga people”. Megumi also said that just like the trees which grow and live, we need to take care of the roots. She expressed appreciation on the work started by Dr. Visier Sanyü with the Healing Garden. And in this she mentioned how she was taught “to pass on strength to the next generation” through such initiative of the Naga people.

White doves being released by community elders and the young during the inaugural of the healing garden

Addressing the programme, Alec McRitchie from Ireland shared about his observation about healing. He cited the example of the visit of the present British Queen to Ireland in 2011, the first such visit by a British monarch in more than 100 years. According to McRitchie, the Queen expressed regret for the unhappy events of the past related to the Irish political problem.

Another example of healing was of Masao Hirakubo, who fought in Nagaland with the Japanese army. However after the war, he spent many years promoting reconciliation with British veterans and was decorated by Britain for his work.

On the healing garden, McRitchie said that Dr. Visier Sanyü was creating a “wonderful place to which people can come and reflect upon and find out what their life’s purpose can be”. McRitchie hoped that in the coming days they will explore if there was anything that can be done to help Nagaland.

It may be mentioned that Alan McRitchie was the European Director of the Bombardier Aerospace, the largest aeronautical engineering company in Northern Ireland. He is currently the Vice Chair of Catalyst Inc, an Innovation Centre based in Belfast.

The inauguration of the healing garden on January 27 was attended by a host of friends, well-wishers, members of different church groups, organizations and villagers. The programme was chaired by Pari Sanyü Meyasetsu and Asa Chase while vote of thanks was pronounced by Kevisato Sanyü Meyasetsu. Former General Secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Rev Zhabu Terhüja said the prayer for the healing garden.

Watch the video below of Naga historian and peace activist Dr. Visier Sanyü Meyasetsu sharing his vision for the Healing Garden that he has set up in his native Nagaland.