Nagaland: Be global citizens, lead with integrity: Dr. Jamir to Ashtalakshmi delegates

A total of 44 delegates from Ladakh and Kerala, comprising students and teachers-in-charge, along with faculty members of Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, interacted with veteran Naga statesman Dr. S.C. Jamir on February 7.
In a press note, PRO Nagaland University, Peter Ki said that the interaction with Dr. Jamir, a Padma Bhushan awardee and four-time chief minister of Nagaland and former Governor of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Odisha, was held under the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme– an initiative of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong.
The programme is aimed at promoting “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” by fostering national integration, cultural understanding and mutual respect. The programme is fully sponsored by DoNER and NEC while Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, is hosting the visiting teams from February 1 to 14, 2026.
During the interaction, the delegates posed questions on leadership qualities and lessons from Dr. Jamir’s long public life. In response, he said that honesty, vision, mission and commitment to that vision were the foremost qualities of leadership.
He urged the students to think beyond their respective states and become global citizens, stating that a broader mindset would prevent them from being confined by narrow communal or personal inhibitions.
Dr. Jamir reminded the students that they were ambassadors of their states and that the future of their states and the country rested in their hands. He encouraged them to cultivate farsightedness and work for the greater good and development of the nation.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining dignity at all times and expressed concern over unruly behaviour witnessed in Parliament.
Sonam Gytso, teacher-in-charge of the Ladakh team, appreciated Dr. Jamir’s reflections on honesty, vision, commitment and thinking beyond regional boundaries. He said the interaction left the delegates enriched, motivated and mindful of their role as ambassadors of their states and the nation.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Aju T.G., teacher-in-charge of the Kerala team, described the interaction as inspiring, noting Dr. Jamir’s rich experience, active lifestyle and mental sharpness even as a nonagenarian. He said Dr. Jamir’s emphasis on competency, adaptability, integrity, fitness, discipline, balanced living and continuous learning would help the delegates succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
The interaction was described as informal and engaging, with the 95-year-old statesman’s acumen and wisdom leaving the visitors enriched, PRO stated.