Many centuries ago, some fortune-tellers belonging to the Mayan civilization of South America predicted that the world would come to an end in the year 2012. Well, we still do not know whether the world will actually come to an end in 2012 because we still have 10 more months of the year ahead of us. However, for Mr. Kezhalelie Keretsü of Kohima Village, the year 2012 has already turned out to be the most fruitful and satisfying in his life. Life has literally come full circle for this 36 years old warrior from Kohima Village. This is so because he has emerged as champion in all the four high-profile wrestling tournaments held this year. To the surprise and satisfaction of many, Kezhalelie has made a clean sweep of all the four high profile wrestling meets, i.e. the KVSA Meet, the NASA Meet, the ASA Meet and now the NWA Meet. What is more, the most prestigious and coveted Naga Wrestling Champion Title which had eluded him for over 15 years is also now finally under his belt.
Many people across Nagaland know Kezhalelie for his exploits in the wrestling arena. But long before he became known as a wrestler, I had come to know Kezhalelie during my Sunday school years at the Khedi Baptist Church, Kohima Village. Even during those early years, Kezhalelie had a loud, bold and dominating personality. But, during those early years, I never knew that he would one day become the wrestling champion of Nagaland.
During the 1990s also, I had the privilege of being associated with Kezhalelie for about 5 years during our college years. In the summer of 1994, I took admission in Baptist College for my P.U. (Arts) course and there I found out that Kezhalelie had also taken admission in this same college. I did not only my P.U. in Baptist College but went on to do my graduation as well in this college. In this way, I was classmate with Kezhalelie for 5 full years. During our P.U. days in Baptist College, Kezhalelie was known more as a basketball player and he would be found in his most active and energetic forms during the college sports weeks.
From the inception of the Naga wrestling tournament more than 30 years back, the Chakesang wrestlers from Phek district has dominated this most popular tournament. On many of these Naga wrestling tournaments, it was the Chakesang wrestlers from Phek district who emerged as champions – barring some few instances. For instance, during my childhood years, I heard about one Vesüto from Kidima village emerging as champion in the Naga wrestling tournament. In the recent years also, we had had the privilege of two Angamis emerging as champions in this high-profile and prestigious Naga wrestling tournament.
I have great respect and admiration for all these fantastic champions. But Kezhalelie is special……… because he happens to be a friend, a former classmate, a well wisher and someone who hails from my very own Kohima Village.
Like many others, I have also keenly followed and witnessed the wrestling career of Kezhalelie for the last 15 years. It has always been a joy for me to watch him display his many skills in the wrestling arena. During the last 15 – 16 years, I did witness some of the most unforgettable bouts that Kezhalelie had with some prominent Naga wrestlers. At the same time I also have to admit that I could not witness many of his famous bouts during this period of time because I was in Delhi for about 5 years pursuing my higher studies. However, even during the times I was in Delhi, whenever wrestling tournaments were being held here in Kohima, I always used to call my brothers in the evening to know the results. And if I came to know that Kezhalelie had won, I would always celebrate there in Delhi itself in my own way – sometimes even alone in my room. Moreover, even though I could not witness some of his famous bouts with my own eyes, I have had the pleasure and the privilege of hearing the accounts of these famous bouts from many wrestling enthusiasts and I continue to cherish these accounts and versions as well.
It has always been a joyous occasion for me to witness Kezhalelie emerging victorious in any of the bouts or tournaments. Likewise, it was also always a heart-breaking moment for me whenever I saw him going down to any of his opponents in the arena. I was also heart-broken when I came to know that he was retiring from wrestling some years back. But now, to my great joy and satisfaction, he has once again made his presence felt in the wrestling circle by coming back in such a fantastic and undeniable fashion.
On 28th and 29th February last also, I was there at the Kohima local ground to witness Kezhalelie in action. He looked tall, big and heavy but his feet are still fast, swift and light like the feet of a damsel and his mind still very sharp and alert. No wonder he emerged the undisputed champion.
During his long wrestling career, Kezhalelie has downed many big names in the wrestling arena. And over the years, the rivalry that Kezhalelie had with the Chakesang wrestler Hüvesü has become legendary. Even though the last time Kezhalelie and Hüvesü wrestled was some 7 - 8 years back, I still hear people talking about them and I still find it very interesting. It is interesting because everybody seems to have their own versions.
The very fact that Kezhalelie has been able to win all the four coveted and high-profile wrestling titles this year at the age of 36 years speaks volumes about the man. I believe 36 years is an age when many of our Naga youths would not be in a position to compete in an exhausting, high-pressure and tough sport like wrestling. However, Kezhalelie not only competed but has also emerged as champion on all the four occasions. This means that he has been able to really look after himself well for the last 10-15 years. Otherwise, to wrestle and overcome opponents much younger to oneself and to finally emerge as champion in the end would certainly not have been possible.
When I look at the life and wrestling career of Kezhalelie, I see that it has all the ingredients required to make complete the story of a champion. The manner in which he made his debut some 16 years ago, the manner in which he captivated the hearts of wrestling lovers for over a decade, the manner in which he retired some years back and now, the manner in which he made his comeback in such a fantastic and undeniable fashion are all more than enough to make complete the story of a true champion. I guess it is the celestial scriptwriter himself who has been writing the script all along for Kezhalelie.
Another thing about Kezhalelie that has always impressed me is that he has always been an active and outstanding member of his church (Khedi Baptist Church, Kohima Village). He is not only a regular churchgoer but also volunteers for the church on many occasions. Many a times I see him singing in the choir and also presenting special numbers in the worship services with his friends. Over the years, he has been able to maintain himself in such a manner that many youngsters look up to him as a role model and a youth icon and rightly so. He may be aggressive and volatile inside the ring. But outside the ring, he is a thorough gentleman.
Finally, my heartiest congratulations to the man for his amazing achievements achieved over the years. As mentioned above, we are still only in the third month of the year 2012 and we still have 10 more months ahead of us. But I want to thank Mr. Kezhalelie Keretsü because he has already made my year……
(Khrietuonyü Noudi is a 34 years old from L-Khel Kohima Village with Post Graduate Degree in Political Science from Delhi University. His column
‘Straight From The Heart’ will be featured regularly in The Morung Express)
