Nagaland Flatfenders Club celebrates Foundation Day

Nagaland Flatfenders Club celebrated its Foundation Day at CT Square, Chümoukedima, on Saturday, commemorating five years of promoting vintage military vehicles and preserving historical heritage.
Addressing the gathering as special guest, DIG (Border) Imnalensa, expressed admiration for the club’s passion and dedication in maintaining the vintage vehicles, calling each jeep “a story of endurance, reliability, and timelessness”.
He also urged club to document the history of each vehicle, noting that many were linked to World War II and symbolized gratitude of British officers to local Naga famili es who had assisted them.
“In documenting the history of these particular vehicles, we are also documenting, we are also celebrating the bravery, the sacrifices of our past vehicles”, he said.
The DIG also emphasized the importance of promoting road safety and discipline, suggesting that the club incorporate social awareness messages in its rallies and public events.
guest of honour, advisor to chief minister, Abu Metha, congratulated the club for reaching the milestone and lauded its contributions to state and national events over the years.
He congratulated the club for crossing five-year milestone and for their successful initiatives, adding that he had personally witnessed their participation not only in club activities but also in government programmes, both within and outside the state.
He also conveyed chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio’s message of appreciation and best wishes to the members, adding that the club’s activities had greatly helped in preserving a significant part of Nagaland’s historical and cultural identity.
Metha remarked that the club members were preservers and protectors of history and heritage, keeping alive the legacy of the iconic World War II-era Willys Jeeps, which once served as first mode of mobility for Naga leaders and administrators.
He maintained that it is their initiatives that ensures that the next generations get to know past history and legacy, further adding that the club is protecting history and legacy that is not just about the war, but the impact it had on the history, and the evolution of mobility in the early 20th century.
He asserted that such vehicles not only contributed to the war and used in war all over the world, but post-war, they became important elements of mobility in different parts of the world.
He thereby challenged the club to expand its initiatives by holding restoration workshops, skill-building sessions, and international collaborations with similar clubs across the world.
Reflecting on the state’s wartime history, Metha underscored the global significance of the Battle of Kohima, describing it as a turning point that reshaped world history.
“Our parents, our forefathers were part of that, and we will continue to live with that legacy. Today, during the Hornbill Festival, we have the World War II Peace Rally. Today we use that piece of history, that violent past, to tell the world that war is not good”, he stated.
Metha further informed that Nagaland would be observing World Remembrance Day on November 11 at the Kohima War Cemetery, and recalled how last year’s event was mentioned in the House of Commons in the UK.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Dr Beizo Kiso, invocation offered by youth director, Police Baptist Church Chümoukedima, Imlimenba, and welcome address by president, Nagaland Flatfenders Club, T John Longkumer.
Short speeches were also delivered by guest of honours, director, postal service, Nagaland Division, Alice K Vizo, and chairman, Sovima Village Council, Sebastian Zumvu, while vote of thanks addressed by secretary general, Nagaland Flatfenders Club, Dr Andrew Ahoto, followed by live performances by Fynix Band, and Stonites Band.