Rev Beilieü Shüya, first Naga woman ordained, laid to rest

Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 19 

The funeral service of Rev Beilieü Shüya, who passed away on September 18, was held at Ura Academy Hall in Kohima on Saturday, with speakers remembering her contributions to Christianity, education, missionary work and the Tenyimi community.

Born on August 15, 1928, in Kohima, Shüya is remembered as the first Naga woman to be ordained and a prominent figure in the Naga Christian Revival Movement.

She was the eldest of 10 children of Lhousuohie Shüya and Zeno Dolie Shüya. Her maternal grandfather was the second person from Khonoma village to embrace Christianity, giving her a family lineage associated with the region's Christian history.

Ura Academy president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu and representatives of CRC Meriema, ACRCC, ACRCC Advisory Board, NCRC Mission Board, ABCC, Shüya Khel Meriema and CRC Arunachal Pradesh spoke at the funeral service.

Sano Vamuzo and Bodevi Shüya spoke on behalf of the family.

The service was led by Neilakuolie Huozha, Pastor, CRC Meriema, and administered by Rev Neikedozo Paphino, president of NCRC.

Ura Academy Hall renamed Rev Beilieü Hall
Liezietsu said Shüya was the daughter of Lhousuohie of Meriema village and that her mother, Zenuo, was the sister of A Z Phizo of Khonoma.

He described her as one of the pioneers of education among the Nagas and said she was respected for her standing as an educationist.

Liezietsu said Shüya had donated the land on which Ura Academy stands, describing it as a sacrifice made out of love for the entire Tenyimi community.

He said she had generously contributed to the academy's beginnings and continued to support it over the years.

Shüya had been associated with Ura Academy since 1970 and served as a member of the Ura Academy Chatha (Board of Directors) until her death on September 18.

“Even though she has parted from us, posterity and the community will forever remember her as the Mother to Ura Academy,” Liezietsu said.

He then announced that the academy hall would henceforth be known as “Rev Beilieü Hall”.

In a condolence message, Nagaland Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister KG Kenye described Shüya's death as the loss of a respected reverend, educationist, missionary and pioneer of the Naga Christian community.

Kenye said Shüya was his godmother and had given him his Angami name, “Thejaselhou (Aja)”.

“Every time I hear or use my name, I will remember the person who lovingly gave it to me and the special place she occupied in my life,” he said.

Kenye described Shüya as a woman of faith, wisdom, courage and dedication, saying her service to God, contribution to education, missionary work and commitment to the people and culture of Nagaland had touched many lives.

The Angami Students' Union (ASU), in a separate condolence message, described Shüya as a vibrant and dynamic leader who dedicated herself to serving the student community.

Education and missionary work
Shüya began her schooling at Mission School, Kohima, where she studied up to Class VI. She continued her education at Mission School, Golaghat, Assam, for Class VII and completed Classes VIII to X at Government High School, Kohima.

She obtained her I.A. from Cotton College, Guwahati, completed the first and second years of her BA at Scottish Church College, Calcutta, and the third year at Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

She later obtained a diploma from the International Montessori Association, Kolkata, completed a Perspective course in Education at William Carey University, California, earned a B.Ed from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, an M.Th from Los Angeles University and an MA in Tenyidie from Ura Academy.

Beyond academics, Shüya was a javelin throw champion in Bengal.

Her life also included periods of imprisonment linked to her convictions and associations. She spent three months as a security prisoner over her interpretation of the International Press of Khuzama and was imprisoned again in 1956 in connection with A Z Phizo's family.

During her imprisonment in Kohima, Nagaon and Guwahati, she translated several passages of the Bible.

In 1959, she became the first headmistress of Baptist English School in Kohima.

She subsequently established schools in Kohima in 1964 and also in Phek and Pughoboto, contributing to the expansion of educational opportunities in Naga communities.

In 1978, she was ordained at the World Mission Conference in Chennai, becoming the first Naga woman to be ordained. She was also among the first generation of the Nagaland Christian Revival Church.

Her missionary work took her to several countries, including Israel, the UK, the US, Germany, Egypt, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Russia, China, Nepal, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.

She made 11 pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and was invited to the inaugural breakfast of US President Bill Clinton on January 20, 1993.

A life member and vice-president of the Nagaland State Bharat Scouts and Guides, Shüya was awarded the Silver Star by then President A P J Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on July 11, 2007.

She was also remembered for her advocacy of the Tenyidie language.