Dimapur, September 21, 2019: Nagaland’s Peace Channel plans to transform the Christian-majority state in northeastern India into the happiest and most peaceful place in the country by 2030.
This was stated by the director of Peace Channel Father C P Anto in his keynote address at the 12th Peace Knit Fest 2019 celebration held at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Wokha town, 75 km north of Kohima, the state capital.
The September 20 event addressed the theme “Transformed to transform.”
In order to achieve the dream, Father Anto stressed the need to move from micro identity of tribe, religion, caste, class and region to macro identity as human beings in which everyone would learn to accept and respect one another.
The Catholic priest also encouraged all the participants to work collaboratively and pledge toward making Nagaland a peaceful state.
“In order to make the “Vision 2030” a reality, Peace Channel in collaboration with private college association of Nagaland and all Nagaland private school association wish to work towards achieving this dream in the days to come,” the priest stated
He also spoke on the role of the government in establishing a peace commission and separate department to prevent, intervene and resolve conflicts.
Quoting Alvin Toffler, he elucidated the purpose of the two-day seminar saying, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Adding to the quote, he further explained that “we are here to learn from each other, unlearn certain things prevent us to be genuinely human and relearn certain things which enhances all.”
Father A D Jose, parish priest of St. Paul Church, Wokha, was the special guest of the event. While addressing the participants, he encouraged the initiatives of the peace movement and encouraged the children to be peace builders in the schools and communities.
Some hghlights of the event included peace celebration, inter-faith meet (panel discussion) on the theme “Towards ensuring inter-religious dialogue in a multi-religious society” with Zubenthung Ngullie, pastor of Police Baptist Church, Wokha; M Alam, president of Muslim community; Deonarayan Pandit and Father Jose.
The members celebrated the international day of peace and foundation day of peace channel on September 21 and the peace award 2019 was conferred on Yanbemo Lotha, pastor of Lotha Baptist Church, Dimapur, during the valedictory function.
The program was witnessed by around 200 youth from different educational institutions of Nagaland. This was stated in a press release issued by a peace channel member Garrol Lotha.
Source: easternmirrornagaland.com