Nagaland NIMSR inducts third batch of MBBS students

National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) on Monday inducted its third batch of MBBS students during a combined Induction and Freshers’ Day programme held at the college auditorium.
Delivering the special address as guest speaker, social worker and activist Niketu Iralu reflected on the profound transformations witnessed in Nagaland over the past century. He cautioned that rapid change brings both “colossal hope” and “colossal challenges,” urging the new generation of medical students to embrace their role with courage, integrity and selflessness.
Recalling NIMSR’s early days, Iralu said the spirit and energy displayed by the students symbolised the promise they bring to the state. He shared an anecdote of a visit to the director’s office earlier this year where he and his colleagues felt moved to sing Tagore’s Ekla Chalo Re, believing it captured the courage and determination with which NIMSR has progressed.
Offering personal reflections from his upbringing, Iralu recalled how his parents served in remote postings, including a nine-day journey on foot and mule from Tening to Phek during the early years of public health service. The hardships endured by earlier generations, he said, highlighted how far Nagaland had come and the responsibilities that accompany progress.
Representing the group Kezekevi Tehuba (KTB), Iralu underscored the organisation’s efforts to understand and support the fragile yet hopeful growth of Naga society amid “unprecedented upheaval.” He urged students to recognise the deep moral and social challenges confronting the region, noting that while medical science equips them to heal bodies, society equally needs “soul and spiritual surgery.”
Pointing to the geopolitical vulnerabilities of the Northeast, he cautioned that small, emerging communities like the Nagas must respond wisely and selflessly to the pressures of the times. He emphasised that “human selfishness” remains the common internal enemy, sharing a formative story from his student days in Madras Christian College (1955–57), where a moment of honest self-reflection led him to acknowledge his own selfishness. That realisation, he said, became the foundation of his lifelong approach to personal and societal healing.
Encouraging students to listen to their conscience, Iralu said genuine transformation begins with individual acts of integrity—choosing what is right over what is easy. “Every moment we face two choices—what challenges us and what tempts us,” he said, noting that the future of Naga society depends on individuals consistently choosing the former.
He warned that the “killing fields” that devastated parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Cambodia, had already reached Manipur, and could spread further if societies fail to confront internal decay. Small communities, he noted, often do not recover once they collapse. Yet he expressed hope that the region can play a meaningful role in shaping a better future for India and the world, provided it stands for what is right. Quoting Carl Jung, he concluded: “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being,” adding that “people are more important than things.”
Addressing the gathering, NIMSR Director-cum-Dean Prof. Dr. Soumya Chakraborty expressed delight at the successful organisation of the induction and freshers’ programme, describing it as “a story beginning” for the 2025 batch. He acknowledged that the institute could not host a full-scale freshers’ event for the 2023 and 2024 batches due to various constraints, but said that Monday’s event reflected NIMSR’s steady progress.
Chakraborty emphasised that the programme was not merely a formal event but an important platform for students, faculty, staff and officials to know one another and build healthy rapport. Strong senior-junior relationships and team building, he said, were essential components of medical education.
The director thanked all stakeholders—students, faculty, government officials and supporters—for their role in NIMSR’s growth, and acknowledged the constant encouragement received from Niketu Iralu.
Chakraborty announced that the white-coat ceremony for the 2025 batch would take place at the close of the event, marking the beginning of their formal journey as medical professionals. He reminded the students that wearing the white coat comes with responsibility, discipline and lifelong dedication to the vocation of healing.
Delivering a brief message, S. Tainiu, secretary, Health and Family Welfare and DDA, NIMSR, told the new batch that they are entering a profession rooted in compassion, integrity and lifelong learning. She encouraged the freshers to treat every patient with dignity and empathy, reminding them that the white coat symbolises responsibility rather than privilege. Calling on students to be agents of change, Tainiu urged them to embrace the hardships of medical training as essential steps in shaping their professional character.
The programme featured musical, instrumental and special presentations by students and invited performers. It opened with a prayer by Kekhrie Liegise, followed by a welcome address by Avibo Yeptho. Rizoteu and Ato presented an instrumental piece, after which Dr. Mhalevilie Sote, associate pastor of BRCK, offered a prayer for NIMSR. A duet by Dewe and Vikupu, a special item by Dziese and Visetuonuo, and a musical performance by the second batch MBBS band added to the celebration. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Lilly Ezung (TC, NIMSR) and a closing prayer offered by Kunglungsile. The programme was compered by Lendina, Niketo, Arpang and Amenla.