A three-day Golden Jubilee celebration of Sangkumti Village Students’ Union was held under the theme “A Journey of Resilience; Transcending Towards Brighter Horizon” at the public ground, Sangkumti, Kiphire, from January 3 to 5, 2025.
Speaking as the chief guest on the inaugural day, MLA and Chairman of DPDB Noklak, Benei M. Lamthiu, congratulated the founding fathers and successive leaders for leading the Union thus far. Bringing a message of love and peace, he stated that a Jubilee is a time to reminisce and forgive one another in order to celebrate together.
Reflecting on the theme “A Journey of Resilience; Transcending Towards Brighter Horizon,” he acknowledged the challenges the Union must have faced since 1975, but praised the resilience of the leaders in overcoming them to reach this milestone. However, he expressed disappointment at the fact that the village has produced only two officers so far.
Encouraging the Union to strive toward a brighter horizon, Benei urged the younger generation to open their minds, acquire knowledge and skills, and work hard, as there is no shortcut to success in life.
Highlighting the importance of cultural preservation, Jubilee cultural guest and EAC Phukhungri, Joshua Tikhir, emphasized that preserving one’s culture begins at home. He urged parents to teach their children their native dialects instead of prioritizing English.
Addressing the gathering, Joshua noted that the advancement of modern technology and westernization has significantly influenced the younger generation, which deviates from their cultural identity. He stressed that oral traditions, customs, norms, dialects, and historical sites are the pillars of identity and urged the youth to use modern technology to document both tangible and intangible aspects of culture as a means of preservation.
During the valedictory session, Temong Y Tikhir, President of the Tikhir Students’ Union, spoke about fostering peace, love, and unity among the Tikhirs and beyond. He congratulated the Union on its achievement and encouraged students not to rely solely on reservation policies in government jobs but to work hard and excel through merit. He also urged individuals to explore their interests outside government services and pursue them with dedication.
On the seminar day, Assistant Professor Shumong spoke about bridging tradition with modernity to achieve quality education. He stressed that modern education must coexist with traditional education in the learning process. Encouraging students to persevere through failures, he reminded them that success comes through hard work and resilience.
Jubilee service speaker Henry Tikhir acknowledged the contributions of past and present leaders in reaching this significant milestone. He encouraged students to put God first in the pursuit of their dreams.
Earlier, the President of TTC, TWA, unit unions, and a host of tribal leaders and officials attended the three-day-long Jubilee celebration.