In a moment that shone like a beacon of hope amid hardship, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills on Thursday honored around 60 successful Internally Displaced Students of Class X and XII from various relief camps across Kangpokpi district, alongside 40 other outstanding students who secured above 80% in the recently declared board and council examinations.
Held under the stirring theme "The Right Steps Will Always Lead to Success," the district-level felicitation-cum-career guidance programme transformed Ngahmun Community Hall into a hall of pride, courage, and inspiration. Reverend Sholal Touthang, who led the blessing prayer, set the tone for a day that will be etched in the collective memory of the community.
The event featured a special career guidance session graced by social worker Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip, United People’s Front (UPF) spokesperson Aaron Kipgen, and Thangboi Haokip, proprietor of Gunchu Coaching Institute Kangpokpi, as resource persons.
Community leaders and student body representatives hailed the success of these young achievers, particularly the Internally Displaced Students, as a shining example of resilience triumphing over adversity.
Unlike many of their peers who studied within the comfort of proper homes and well-equipped classrooms, these Internally Displaced Students braved extreme adversity — living in cramped and congested relief camps, enduring constant uncertainty and emotional distress. Yet, they rose above it all, achieving not just academic excellence but proving that resilience and determination can conquer even the harshest realities.
Addressing the gathering, Rev. Sholal Touthang emphasized that these students did not let their struggles define them but instead turned them into stepping stones towards a brighter future.
“Your marks are commendable, but your spirit is what makes you true champions,” declared Rev. Sholal Touthang, as he invoked blessings on the students. “You turned your struggles into stepping stones and lit a path for thousands to follow.”
Social worker Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip spoke on the importance of laying a strong educational foundation as a pillar for future success, while Thangboi Haokip, proprietor of Gunchu Coaching Institute Kangpokpi, inspired students on competitive and career-oriented goals beyond textbooks.
UPF spokesperson Aaron Kipgen ignited a new sense of purpose among the young achievers, urging them to cultivate a mindset of nationalism and to imbibe the spirit of community service.
He also passionately reminded the student community that the first target of those who aim to destroy a community or a nation is its education system, and thus, it is the collective responsibility and duty of the student community to guard it, nurture it, and give back to the society that stood by them.
The highlight of the day was the emotional felicitation of the meritorious Internally Displaced Students, who received certificates and words of encouragement amidst thunderous applause and heartfelt cheers. Each handshake and each certificate symbolized not just academic triumph but the unbreakable spirit of a community that refuses to surrender to circumstances.
The programme concluded with a blessing feast, transforming the gathering into a vibrant celebration of victory over adversity and a reaffirmation of the community’s collective dream of a brighter, stronger future.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
