SENAPATI: The 2nd Inpui Naga Baptist Churches Association (INBCA) Youth Gospel Olympics commenced at Makuilongdi Village in Senapati district, Manipur on Friday. The opening ceremony was graced by Awangbow Newmai, MLA, 52-Tamei AC and former minister as the chief guest, K. Raina, Former Dy Speaker, Manipur and Alar Thoitak, Ex-MDC, Tamenglong as the guests of honour respectively.
During the programme, the organisers formally introduced the official Olympic balls that were donated by an NGO, “Get Them Go,” explaining their individual significance based on John 3:16. Co-convenor of the event, Stephen Bariamtak explained that the yellow ball represents the holiness of God.
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The black colour represents the sinfulness of humanity. The red colour represents the blood of Jesus Christ and God sending His Son to redeem humankind. The white colour represents the purity and righteousness given through Christ. The green colour represents spiritual growth and new life in Christ. The yellow ball was also described as representing Heaven, where God dwells and where believers hope to spend eternity.
The organisers informed that these official balls will be used throughout the entire duration of the Youth Gospel Olympics.
Addressing the gathering, K. Raina stated that he was born as a non-Christian family from Maram Khullen village, one of the biggest villages in Senapati district. In 1973-74, he converted to Christianity although his father was the headman of Mathak Sagei and had to strictly follow certain rites and rituals of the forefathers in those days.
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His grandfather’s younger brother was the first Christian in Maram who was chased out from Maram and lived in the huts, in Mao areas and finally established a village at Lairouching and died there.
Having witnessed the Youth Gospel Olympic organised by the Inpui Naga Baptist Churches Association, the guest lauded the organisers adding, such programmes had never been organised in Maram areas where the youth would return after playing in any tournament. The guest also encouraged such programmes to be organised in Senapati areas too. Having recognised the Inpui tribe although a small tribe in Manipur, the former Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly stated that a symbol has been used in the state legislative assembly,. recognising their tribe. The guest regretted that Maram Khullen could not produce many brilliant scholars as they are mainly focused into feasting and merry making in the later part of December every year, adding pleasure and enjoyment hinder the youth from achieving greatness in their lives.
The guest urged all the delegates to aim for the goal that could glorify God to become great in the Zeliangrong and Naga community. Having known Manipur as the powerhouse of sports, Raina urged all the players to lift the fame of the tribe in various disciplines including sports, stating nothing can stop a willing heart. The guest urged the gathering to have unity with one another and live a life little ahead of others.
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Alar Thoitak, Ex-MDC, Tamenglong urged the youth not to let anyone look down because they are young. The guest encouraged the gathering not to be discouraged for being a small tribe but to proudly identify themselves to belong to the Inpui tribe.
Speaking as the chief guest, Awangbow Newmai reminded the Inpui tribe to act according to the time, stating the importance of time in everybody’s life. The guest mentioned that nobody can extend time beyond 24 hours a day, beyond 7 days a week while everyone is moving towards one’s goal, urging all never to miss the appropriate time or will miss the opportunity forever. With different games to play during the Youth Gospel Olympic, the chief guest urged all players to aim to become someone famous in one’s own discipline. If one pursues with strong determination to reach one’s goal, the Chief guest mentioned that not by a small tribe can stop such determination.
As a Christian, the chief guest urged all to remember that one should be tolerant, willing to forgive and love one another where he regretted finding the absence of such qualities in the present generations. Inability to forgive one another has started to worsen the present crisis prevailing in the state, he said. Although no elected representative has come out from the tribe, the former minister is hopeful to see elected representatives from the Inpui tribe in the near future. The chief guest wished the very best to all the players during the Youth Gospel Olympic and a fruitful year ahead.
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The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of various Naga and Zeliangrong organisations, student bodies, village authorities and church leaders including Convenor of the Naga Forum, the President of the Inpui Football Association, the President of the Zeliangrong Body, the President of the Zeliangrong Youth Forum, Assam, senior office bearers of ANSAM, including a former General Secretary and the Finance Secretary, and the President of the All Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Members of the Autonomous District Council, social workers, the President of the Maram Students’ Union, Kohima, and the Chairmen of Makuilongdi Village, Makuilongdi Zeme Village, and Makuilongdi Rongmei Village were also present.
Organisers stated that Makuilongdi holds historical importance as one of the earliest settlement areas of the Zeliangrong people, from where the community later migrated to other regions. The village is regarded as an ancestral origin site.