Students explore the newly inaugurated Atsumoalojen Athang library at Baptist School, Panso, following its inauguration on August 12.
PANSO, AUGUST 15 (MExN): Baptist School, Panso, inaugurated its new school library, ‘Atsumoalojen Athang,’ meaning “A Place to Awaken” in Khiamniungan, on August 12. The library is expected to serve around 130 students from Panso, Pathso, Pathso Nokeng, Ekhao, Yokao, Tsangkue and Kingnyu villages.
The inauguration was marked by the opening of the library doors using an eco-friendly plant-leaf ribbon, jointly performed by three generations—a student of Baptist School, school founder Khongo Shiu and guest speaker T Penam.
The library was spearheaded by Wekoweu (Akole) Tsuha, with its concept, design and curation supported through a small grant from *Drop Dead Generous*, described as a global experiment in radical kindness.
According to the school, the initiative was inspired by the efforts of founder Khongo Shiu and headmistress Shongping to revamp the school, which was established in 1993. The initiative aims to provide children with a safe space for education amid challenges including poverty, drugs and social unrest.
With the grant, the school management, in collaboration with Tsuha, renovated the library space, installed bookshelves and procured learning resources. Within two months, additional books were donated by individuals from Bengaluru, Gujarat and Nagaland.
The library now houses more than 460 children's books and educational games for early readers, including picture books, comics, visual atlases, encyclopedias, fiction and biographies covering subjects ranging from science and ecology to moral values and numeracy.
Speaking at the inauguration, library curator Tsuha said *Atsumoalojen Athang* was intended to “spark curiosity, broaden horizons” and help children learn about the wider world while remaining connected to their indigenous Naga culture and language.
She also encouraged community elders to visit the library as “living libraries” and share their experiences and knowledge with younger generations.
Guest speaker T Penam, a graduate teacher at GHS, said the initiative was the first dedicated school library programme in the area. He said the library would help foster critical and creative thinking among students, support teachers in lesson planning and provide a dedicated quiet space for study.
Village council member of Pathso Nokeng, Sunie, compared the library to a planted seed and called on parents, teachers and community leaders to collectively nurture it so that children could “bear fruit”.
Parent representative Langshe recalled that the school had provided the foundation for his own children to pursue higher education in Kohima. He said the library would further contribute to the progress of future generations.
Headmistress Shongping expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the initiative, saying the long-cherished dream had been realised through widespread kindness.
She said the effort “restores faith in goodness despite the chaos in the world”.
The programme was chaired by Pujei, a teacher at the school, while prayers were offered by Mutiam and Jesha. A paired book-reading session by Class V student Shongmou and teacher Laam was also held.
The programme concluded with a guided tour of the library, during which parents, community leaders and students from Grades 2 to 8 explored the new facility. Parents and students also took a pledge to support, use and encourage one another to explore the wider world through the library.
Situated in the hills of Noklak district, *Atsumoalojen Athang* seeks to expand learning beyond basic textbooks by connecting external literary resources with indigenous knowledge and encouraging reading, curiosity and wider learning among children.
