Forty-four delegates from Ladakh and Kerala, comprising students with their teachers-in-charge along with faculty members of Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus interacted with veteran Nagaland statesman, Dr SC Jamir on February 7.
Besides being a Padma Bhushan recipient, Dr Jamir had been Chief Minister of Nagaland for four terms and had also served as the Governor of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Orissa.
The interaction was part of Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme —an initiative of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong, which aims to promote “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” by fostering national integration, cultural understanding, and mutual respect. The program is fully sponsored by DoNER and NEC.
Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus is hosting the visiting teams from February 1 to 14, 2026.
The visiting delegates raised pertinent questions about the qualities of leadership and lessons they could learn from the Doyen of statesmanship and leadership among other questions, to which Dr Jamir said that the first quality one should have is honesty, vision and mission and the commitment to that vision.
He also urged the students to think beyond their state and to become global citizens, and then only will they have a mind-set that seeks a broad understanding and which will not be caged by narrow communal and personal inhibitions.
Dr Jamir reminded the students that they are the ambassadors of their states and that the future of their state in particular and the country in general is in their hands and that they must have farsightedness and the zeal to work for the greater good and development of their state and country. He also urged the students to maintain dignity at all times and he shared how he was distressed to see the unruly behaviour that goes on in the parliament.
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Sonam Gytso, one of the teachers-in-charge of the Ladakh team, appreciating Dr. Jami’s reflection on honesty, vision, commitment, and thinking beyond regional boundaries, said, “The insightful interaction left the delegates enriched, motivated, and mindful of their role as ambassadors of their states and the nation”.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Dr Aju TG, one of the teachers-in-charge of the Kerala team said, “The interaction with Dr. Jamir was an inspiring moment given his rich experience, active lifestyle and mental sharpness even as a nonagenarian. His stress on competency, adaptability, integrity, fitness, discipline, balanced living, and continuous learning, will help the delegates improve their own lives for succeeding in an every-competitive world”.
The interaction was informal and personal which had the audience rapt with attention and greatly engaged; and the sharp acumen and erudite wisdom of the 95-years old statesman left the visitors awestruck and greatly enriched.
