Aos have to play a role for Naga unity, says Dr. Jamir

December 11, 2020 65 Views No Comment

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, DEC 10 (NPN) : Veteran Naga politician, former governor and former four-time chief minister, Dr. S.C. Jamir said Aos have been blessed for being pioneers of Christianity as they had led in the field of education and politics and today they need to take the lead in bringing all Naga tribes together by looking beyond the boundaries of their villages, range and tribe etc.

He said this while addressing the 61st general meeting of Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) at Senden Reju, Dimapur, on December 10.

Dr. Jamir said Nagas are surrounded on all sides by various religions such as Hinduism and Islam in Assam, Hinduism in Manipur, Buddhism in Myanmar but no state or country has succeeded in bringing Nagaland under other religions. In this, he reminded the gathering that Aos have played a pioneering role in bringing Nagas under the fold of Christianity. Dr. Jamir said this proved that the land of Nagas is the chosen land of God. Dr. Jamir, however, lamented that Nagas in general and Aos in particular, have failed to realise this and doing so have chosen to remain under the cloud of violence and in fighting with each other.

The veteran Naga politician also recalled that even in the history of Nagaland, Aos shouldered the responsibility of bringing peace and hope in the formation of the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) in 1957. He said NPC was formed by the 16 tribes from erstwhile Naga Hills and Tuensang Frontier Agency who met in Kohima from August 22 to 26, 1957.

He said NPC offered a ray of hope during a dark period of history when Nagas were undergoing so much suffering due to violence and bloodshed. Dr. Jamir said the 16 tribes who formed the NPC under the leadership of Dr. Imkongliba Ao as president and J.B. Jasokie as secretary, proposed the 9 Point Agreement. Dr. Jamir, who is the sole surviving member of the NPC, maintained that the NPC’s 16 point memorandum was unanimously adopted by representatives of 16 Naga tribes at the 3rd NPC.

He said the 16 point memorandum was then accepted by the 16 Naga tribes as an agreement after it was signed with the government of India.

According to Dr. Jamir, the Aos have led in all fields but today when Nagas need unity among tribes, they should not shirk the responsibility as time has again come for them to shoulder the responsibility for the good of the Nagas.

The programme was chaired by the office bearers of ASTD, while invocation was pronounced by Pastor, DAPF, N LipokJamir.

A new team of ASTD office bearers were also announced at the meeting, with Meren Nokpu as president and P. Sashi Longchar as general secretary, vice president- Imtisangba, asst. general secretary- Temsumongba, finance secy- Imtilepzuk and asst. finance secy. Takuba for the term 2021 to 2023.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/aos-have-to-play-a-role-for-naga-unity-says-dr-jamir/225909.html