- Written by Thejazelie Kuosa, Fifth Semester, Media Technologies, 2023.
The Angami’s are a major Naga ethnic group predominantly inhabiting the Kohima District, Chümoukedima District and Dimapur District in the Northeast Indian State of Nagaland. The Angami’s are divided into four regions namely Chakhro Angami, Northern Angami, Southern Angami and Western Angami. Angami Naga’s began to settle in Shillong during the 1920's. During those times they were pedestrians with a sole purpose to receive education from Shillong and likewise the Angami Naga’s received tremendous education and knowledge. Master Rüzhükhrie was one of the first Angamis Naga’s who came to Shillong. He was a prominent Naga leader who also drafted the Simon Commission in 1929. Likewise, many renowned leaders of Nagas received education from Shillong and contributed towards the Naga society tremendously. Through this we came to know that the Angami Naga’s gained prosperity from Shillong and continued till date.
The Angami community in Shillong has three different representatives and each of these representatives has different work in looking after the communities together. Angami Student Union Shillong (ASU), Angami Christian Fellowship Shillong (ACFS), Angami Elders Forum Shillong (AEFS).
Mr.’s Rovino Savino working as a mobilize for Nagas in Shillong as well in Nagaland working with an organization had settle in Shillong with her family in the year 2012 and currently working as an advisor in Angami Christian Fellowship Shillong (ACFS), guiding the students and people of her community who had just come to Shillong, with her fellow representatives. Some parents directly contact them before sending their children to get more information about institutions and for them to stay and send their children and sometimes they send them to some of their houses and that’s how they reach out to them.
They also had special days. One of them was Freshers Day, usually in September. On this day, the community come together to welcome new members, especially the students. It was a time to meet and get to know each other.
They also had Sunday meetings once a month. These meetings were like a big family gathering, where they shared stories and enjoyed each other's company. It was a way for the community to connect and grow. To make their connections stronger, members of some representatives visited each other's homes. This helped them learn more about each other's families, including the students. These visits played a big role in reaching out to both new and old members. It was a simple and warm way for the community to come together and build lasting connections.
In the Angami community, many people, both young students and older folks, are putting in a lot of effort. They work hard, but at the same time, it's challenging to have a strong community life. The representatives are doing their best to make sure everyone can be part of the community, encouraging each other to grow together. Even though people are far away from their homes, they want to build a community where everyone can feel at home in this distant land.
With the distance and everyone's busy schedules, it's not easy for the community to meet and stay in touch all the time. People in the community have different jobs, and their work schedules can be tough. The representatives can't just meet their people to call them for programs and events whenever they want, so they have to plan and make appointments. Sometimes, it's a struggle for them to find time, and it's also a challenge for the representatives as well. Despite this, some of them, both students and elder representative members, are working really hard to build a strong community life in Shillong. They understand the difficulties; perhaps, they are determined to make their community a supportive and connected place, even in the midst of busy lives and distance.
Long ago, among the Nagas, the Angamis were the pioneers in many areas, like education and work. They set the foundation for others to follow. Now, it's the duty of today's students to carry on this legacy. When new communities come to Shillong, the goal is to join hands and create a strong community. Together, they can support and uplift each other, becoming better individuals in society.
Despite being away from home, there haven't been any issues among the students or families living in this different environment. This is a good sign. To keep things positive, it's important for everyone to get to know each other in the community. By doing so, they can provide encouragement and contribute to building better individuals for society. It's a shared effort, and by working together, they can create a supportive and thriving community in Shillong.
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