Lotha students of Clark Theological College, Aolijen, present a special performance at the Mokokchung Lotha Students’ Union Golden Jubilee celebration held on November 7 at the Mokokchung Town Hall. (Insert)Chief Guest Elias T. Lotha, Transport Commissioner, Government of Nagaland. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | November 8
The Mokokchung Lotha Students’ Union (MLSU) celebrated its Golden Jubilee on November 7 at the Mokokchung Town Hall under the theme “Golden Past, Intelligent Future.” The milestone celebration also coincided with the observance of Tokhü Emong, the traditional Lotha Naga festival of harvest.
Elias T. Lotha, Transport Commissioner, Government of Nagaland, graced the event as the chief guest, and in his address, reflected on the vital role of unions and organizations in promoting social welfare and moral responsibility.
He urged students to recognize their responsibilities as learners and to pursue knowledge with determination and purpose. “Students should not only study for the sake of learning but must share knowledge with one another,” he said. “Learning should prepare us to face real-life situations — to apply knowledge for a better society.”
Calling on the youth to be “voices for the voiceless,” Elias Lotha emphasized that knowledge must be used to uplift those who are “suppressed, threatened, in fear, and oppressed.” He further encouraged mutual respect and empathy across all walks of life, describing moral and spiritual grounding as the foundation of a humane society.
Quoting the Bible, he reminded the gathering, “God created human beings in His image; therefore, we all have the Holy Spirit in us. We should not harm others but respect one another.” He also cautioned against social divisions and “isms” that fragment Naga society, urging that such differences be transformed into positive forces of unity and progress.
Touching upon evolving social relations, Elias Lotha noted the growing prevalence of inter-tribal marriages among the Aos, Lothas, and other Naga communities, describing it as a natural evolution of society. “Let’s start bonding,” he said. “Only then can we say we are building a new society — one that is united and strong.”
Within Mokokchung town, the Lotha community comprises over 130 households and 142 students, represented by MLSU members studying across institutions including Fazl Ali College (FAC), Clark Theological College (CTC), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICIT), and several schools.
In his presidential address, Y. Khyobenthung Tsanglao, President of MLSU, announced the launch of the Jubilee Educational Support Endowment, a scholarship fund aimed at supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The fund, he stated, would be sustained through contributions from alumni and well-wishers.
Delivering the theme address, Peter Libenthung, Principal of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Tuensang, urged students to stay rooted in their identity even as they adapt to a rapidly changing world. “The 20th century was an era of business management,” he said, “but the 21st century is the era of self-management.”
He described the present time as “an era of change,” calling for flexibility, resilience, and self-awareness. “We must know not only ourselves but also understand others. There is no substitute for hard work,” he said, emphasizing that adversity can be transformed into a force for personal and collective progress.
Exhortations were delivered by C. Nribemo Ngullie, first MLSU president (1975); Yanthungo M. Kikon, Chairman of the Mokokchung Lotha Hoho; Lanutoshi Aier, President of the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang; and a representative from the Lotha Students’ Union, Wokha.
