Revive positive qualities of our forefathers: Tohanba

Parliamentary secretary for Municipal Affairs and Economics & Statistics, R Tohanba said the need of the hour was to revive the positive qualities of “our” forefathers like respecting the elders and parents, honesty, integrity and hard work.
He said this while speaking as chief guest of Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako (YAA) golden jubilee valedictory function at Shamator, Wednesday.
Referring to the jubilee theme “Honoring our past, charting our future”, Tohanba said the theme appropriately suggest that “we” should remain rooted to “our” culture and tradition as “we” move towards higher goals thus retaining “our unique identity”.
However, he cautioned that being rooted should not imply holding on to “our raw lifestyle” but to celebrate and promote the positive, practical and logical practices of our forefathers like hard work, honesty and integrity.
Lamenting that the today Naga society has become “quite opposite” to that of “our” forefathers, Tohanba said morality, honesty, integrity and respect for elders are decaying.
He then said that unless YAA takes initiatives to revive the positive traits, the unity of Yimchungrüs and Nagas in general would remain a distant dream.
Tohanba also urged the younger generation to inculcate the Biblical teachings like forgive and forget, love, patience and tolerance and spread it to other fellow citizens.
As YAA celebrates 50 years, he said it was important to remember the pioneers adding golden jubilee was not only a time of celebration and jubilation but also a time for retrospection and reprisal. 
Stating  that Yimchungrüs are fortunate to be blessed with a plethora of rich and amazing culture, he said the same should be preserved while shedding off negative practices.
The parliamentary secretary said today’s Yimchungrü should know the art of living together and unity if they were to catch up with other tribes.
“Unity can be possible only when there is mutual trust and respect among different sections of the people. And since unity begins at home, every Yimchungrü family should learn how to respect and trust each other”, said Tohanba
Pointing out that Yimchungrüs could speak six different dialects –Langa, Makory, Tikhir, Chir, Longpfur and Phelungre, he said they should consider these diversities as “our rich cultural heritage.”
Meanwhile the gathering was also addressed by ADC Shamator, Wonchio Odyuo and former presidents of YAA.