Manipur: KSO Sadar Hills honours meritorious and internally displaced students in grand ceremony

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills felicitated around 100 students, 60 of whom are Internally Displaced Students (IDS) from relief camps in Kangpokpi district, and 40 others who achieved over 80 per cent marks in the recent Class X and XII board and council examinations.

Held at Ngahmun Community Hall, the district-level felicitation-cum-career guidance programme, themed “The Right Steps Will Always Lead to Success”, transformed the venue into a space of shared pride and inspiration. The event aimed to celebrate academic excellence while acknowledging the extraordinary resilience of those who achieved it under duress.

The programme commenced with a solemn blessing prayer led by Reverend Sholal Touthang, who praised the students’ courage and urged them to use their hardships as stepping stones toward a brighter future. “Your marks are commendable, but your spirit is what makes you true champions,” he told the gathering, invoking blessings upon the students.

A special career guidance session followed, featuring noted personalities including social worker Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip, United People’s Front (UPF) spokesperson Aaron Kipgen, and Thangboi Haokip, proprietor of Gunchu Coaching Institute, as resource persons. They offered motivational talks and practical advice on competitive exams, career planning, and the importance of education in nation-building.

Speaking on the occasion, UPF spokesperson Aaron Kipgen urged students to embrace the values of nationalism and community service. “Education is always the first target of those who seek to destroy a community or a nation. It is your responsibility to safeguard and nurture it,” he emphasized.

Despite facing extreme adversity living in cramped relief camps and enduring emotional and psychological stress the Internally Displaced Students emerged as beacons of hope. Their success, speakers noted, was not just academic but emblematic of the indomitable human spirit.

The students were awarded certificates and praised for their perseverance. The programme concluded with a blessing feast, symbolizing community solidarity and celebrating the dreams of a future shaped by resilience, education, and unity.