The Old Riphyim Students’ Union (ORSU) on Thursday 29 December culminated the two-day Platinum Jubilee celebration held at Old Riphyim GMS Compound with Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton as the special guest.
Speaking at the program, Patton said that the village needs to put an extra effort in fostering future prosperity by recalling the past glory and continuing to uphold the visions of elders for which the union is celebrating the 75 years of existence.
He informed the students to obtain education that one day they can excel in life through various state and central competitive exams. He also encouraged the students to be professional in various fields besides education stating that education is not only about government jobs but being self-reliant and to provide employment to society by becoming entrepreneurs of various fields, where he called the youths to tap the natural resources available.
Patton also encouraged the youths to take up farming as a profession, expressing that it is part and way of life of Nagas. He also encouraged and invited those educated youths of the village and assured them support if they are determined in their projects. He also urged upon the people of Old Riphyim to do away with old odds and differences through the celebration of ORSU platinum jubilee and called the congregation to renew and strengthen their relationship through unity and brotherhood with an accommodative spirit.
He pleaded with the students’ community and youths to make use of mobile phones in their educational learning process and not to misuse it. With the celebration of the 75 jubilee he invoked forgiveness within the people of Old Riphyim and the Lotha community and conveyed that through the celebration the Village of Old Riphyim and Lotha community in general be blessed.
Professor T. Zarenthung Ezung, department of Economics, Nagaland University, Lumami who was speaking on the theme “Beyond the Horizon” said that ‘Knowledge is the vehicle that will change your life’ and it is education that define and refine the society and through education a blind could see, a defy could hear and dumb could speak.
He said “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness,” and with the vision and motive the pioneers set to form ORSU which today have reached a milestone achievement. He said that with the celebration of ORSU Platinum Jubilee it has illuminate beyond their village and expressed that it is with the vision today the Old Riphyim is blessed with good number of government servants and politicians like Y Patton the deputy CM of Nagaland. He called upon the present generation not to dim the light but to be torch-bearers and continue with the aspiration of the pioneers of Old Riphyim Village. Meanwhile he informed the youths of today’s generation to think out of the box and be job providers and not job seekers, adding that it is time that the youths took responsibility and urged the students to continue contributing towards the community and not to be contented with what they have achieved.
Earlier, the celebration was marked with unveiling of monolith stone and unfurling of ORSU flag by the special guest Y. Patton. The monolith stone dedication prayer was said by Rev. Z. John Patton.
During the event, President Lotha Students’ Union and president Old Riphyim Gazetted Officer’ forum delivered short messages.