Shillong today is more than a learning centre for the Ao students celebrating 50 years of their union, says Pooja Bhula
POLITICAL INSTABILITY in Nagaland five decades ago made them shift to Shillong for education. For the Aos – one of Nagaland’s 16 principal ethnic communities – the Meghalaya capital today is more than just a learning centre.
Many like former Meghalaya Police chief IT Longkumer came to Shillong in the 1950s. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the Ao Students’ Union Shillong (ASUS) was formed. In these 50 years, the union has had more than 12,000 members.
Longkumer, 71, recalled coming from Mokokchung district of Nagaland in 1957. “In those days Shillong was a beautiful quiet place and one could smell the fragrance of jasmines if one went for a walk. Taxis were merely a dozen and the city buses, the chief means of transport, were more efficient than the ones you find today,” he said.
The former DGP had worked in New Delhi, Rajasthan and Assam but decided to settle down in Shillong. He visits Nagaland annually during the winter.
According to the Golden Jubilee souvenir published by ASUS, the Aos began arriving in Shillong in 1901. “Most of the early leaders of the Nagaland were Shillong-educated Aos. Our students from here have not only held important position in the state but also at a national level,” said Union president Aran Imsong.
This edge over other Naga tribes is attributed to conversion by Christian missionaries, who first targeted the Aos. “Today Nagaland is a 100% Christian state. With conversion came education, and we took Christianity and literacy to other Naga tribes as well,” Imsong added.
The souvenir records names of 42 members who became scholars in different disciplines. Some ASUS alumni who have made it to the top include Nagaland home minister Imkong Imchen, who was present at the golden jubilee celebration on October 26-27.
The celebration covering a range of activities from singing, dancing and talent night to sharing of experience and challenges by ASUS alumni. Speeches were based on the jubilee’s theme of ‘New Vision’. Chubainla, director of Higher and Technical Education, Nagaland spoke about education, Toshitsungba Aier about the future of the tribe and additional director Land resources (Bio-Resource Mission director) Maotashi Longkumer about entrepreneurship.
Some 500 people converged for the event. They included dignitaries such as Alemtemshi Jamir, additional chief secretary and development commissioner of Nagaland and RG Lyngdoh, former home minister and chairman of Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation.
About the growth of the union, Imsong said: “Over time, we added culture, sports, literature and other activities. We have to change with the changing system of education.” The union – it has a coordinator for women – emphasizes on discipline and has a list of do’s and don’ts for Ao students who come to the city.
Most students feel the guidelines are necessary. Aoinla Pongen, 20, is a student of St. Mary’s College and the union’s coordinator for women. She said: “Away from parents in a new city it’s very easy for students to get carried away. At first even I found it difficult to stick to the rules, but they help us stay focused and parents feel less worried because the union is so strong.”
But shepherding ASUS can be quite energy-sapping. “Serving the union was an amazing experience but managing it with studies can get tiring,” said former president Supongyanger Tzudir, 25, who plans to take a break. Lipok Sungkum Imsomg, 25, also found balancing academics with union responsibilities tough when he was general secretary from 2006-08.
Aoinla disagreed, asserting it was a matter of time management. Apart from union issues, she has the added responsibility of taking care of problems Ao girls pursuing studies face.
Something every ASUS member concurred about was the value that Shillong and the union added to their lives. They also agreed that the union honed them for bigger challenges. Lipok, for instance, used his organizational experience to do his Masters in sociology in Hyderabad and prepare for the civil services exams.
Shillong, of course, played a major role. “One thing this city has taught me is dignity of labour, however insignificant the job is,” Lipok said.
ASUS members, however, rued the lack of unity among Nagas, especially the students’ unions of different tribes. It has taken a step in the right direction with career counseling centers to be opened for Naga students irrespective of tribe. It will create an alumni corpus too.