Three-day 21st session Phoyisha Cultural Festival organised by Phoyisha Cultural Organisation (PCO) comprising of ten villages under Meluri sub-division, Phek district was graced by minister for School Education and SCERT, Yitachu, Wednesday.
Speaking at the programme, Yitachu said Nagas should not consider the vexed Naga political issue in line with factionalism, tribalism and favouritism.
He said the issue should be viewed in a way that whether any solution that comes about was workable, practicable and acceptable to the Nagas.
“If we can view the issue on that line… solution can take place, but as long as we continue to look from the angle of our own favouritism, affiliation, tribalism and factionalism then solution will remain elusive,” he said.
Lauding the efforts of the organisers for holding the cultural festival once in every two year, the minister said “culture and tradition is our identity and it should always be upheld”. He also urged the elders to try to pass the good old culture and tradition to the younger generation.
Yitachu said though the literacy rate in the state was very high and people have attained so much education, the problems in the Naga society are compounded as people are not truthful.
Pointing out that government schools are being provided with the “highly qualified and best teachers”, he said if the village education councils coordinate with the schools in the respective villages, “world class education” can be imparted to the children.
He however regretted that even teachers of government schools and well to do parents are sending their children in private schools, neglecting the weaker students in government schools. Yitachu also observed that unless the weaker students are taken care of, the society cannot progress.
PCO comprises of ten villages – New Phor, Phor, Wuzu, Hutsü, Yisi, Küzatü, Shatüza,. Weziho, Mollen and Yisisotha. It organizes the cultural festival biennially by holding various competitions like folk song and dances, indigenous games and archery.
The inaugural function was compered by Er. Joyson Pfithu and Mercy Thur, invocation by Pastor of Hutsü Baptist Church, Thraochu Pfithu and welcome address by Hutsü Village Council Chaurman Tupin Vaching.