50 Years of Nerhema Tseminyu Peace Treaty
Morung Express News
Kohima | November 9
During the headhunting era, the act of marauding by Mezoma and Nerhema on defenseless women, children and aged men while the abled menfolk were out in their fields and the subsequent bloody revenge taken by Tseminyu on the marauders, has been orally recorded as one of the most bitter tales of that time.
This incident shook the existing ancestral treaty of their forefathers as it was also known since time immemorial that two brothers-Perhielie and Tsemi had together scouted for an ideal settlement along with Dapfü, wherein Perhielie settled at Nerhema and Tsemi moved northward; and had since upheld their brotherly relationship till the time of the incident.
It was the advent of Christianity that instilled a sense of forgiveness and the ancestral brotherhood between the two villages was once again reignited.
In commemoration of the treaty, a Covenant Monolith was erected in Nerhema Village on March 7, 1973 and Tseminyu Village in February 1975 respectively. This was marked with a feast and merrymaking to signify that they would “help each other in time of needs and difficulties till the sun, the moon and stars exist.”
Fifty years on since the peace treaty was made in 1973, the two villages—Nerhema and Tseminyu today commemorated 50 years of their brotherhood at Chiephobozou Local Ground with natives from both villages coming together to renew this bond.
90-year-old Kegwanye Kent, Convenor, Souvenir Committee hoped that the celebration would “usher peace and brotherly relationship for all times to come.”
Rev Fr Gwayhunlo Lawrence Khing, Vice Principal, NEISSR Dimapur remarked that the gathering is to testify that they no longer dwell in that headhunting era where they exhibited strength, power and might through war; while adding that the first letters of the two villages—‘N’ and ‘T’ can stand for “New” and “Testament,” and said, “we are the people of the New Testament.”
“We desire the good of each other in our daily lives. And wonders will begin when you start living that life”, he said while encouraging the gathering to put on goodness and righteousness before the Lord. “May God bless us to increase and prosper, for every holistic development, and also build and raise our people. Carry the good news and we will continue to be good”, he said.
In his address, Sevilie Kerhüo, Convenor, Organising Committee recalled the journey of the peace treaty while urging the need for the two villages to continue upholding the friendship. “Today is a golden chance to make permanent friendship”, he expressed and termed the unfurling of the Jubilee flag earlier as a sign of oneness, peace and love. He appealed to everyone to consider that, “from today onwards, my burden is your burden, my suffering is your suffering, my pain is your pain, my problem is your problem.”
Highlights of the event included scripture reading and prayer by Rev G Khing, Director, Asia Soul Winners; unfurling of the Jubilee Flag by Rev Dr Tseibu Rutsa, President, Nerhema Dieliekevi Liethomia Krotho; welcome address by Neisakholie Ziephrü, President, Nerhema Dzevi Houzha; special presentation by the Jubilee Choir; vote of thanks by the Vice President of Tseminyu Union; and benediction by Rev Vilanyü Usou, Pastor, Nerhema Baptist Church. The programme was led by Jwenga Kent, Co Convenor, Organising Committee.
The event was also marked by a ‘Friendship Hour’ where people from the two villages got to know each other and made friends. Pastors and catechists of all representing churches prayed together for the Jubilee Feast.
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