Sinlung /
19 February 2011

UK Scholarships For Naga Students

The Naga students selected for scholarship in Kohima on Friday. Telegraph picture

Kohima, Feb 19 : Nearly 75 Naga students today received scholarships from World War II veterans.

The UK-based Kohima Education Trust selected the students, mostly children from poor families but good in academics, for the scholarship.

The scholarships were awarded to students from Class VIII to X in the presence of a seven-member delegation from the UK. Students who are studying in Class VIII will get the scholarship amount every year till Class X. The students received Rs 7,000 each from the war veterans.

Atou Mezhur, treasurer of the trust, said the scholarship was awarded to the students in gratitude for the support of the Naga people during the Kohima battle and Burma campaign. Mezhur said Nagas had helped the Allied Force as interpreters, scouts and guides and as potters adding that the British government still acknowledged their contribution and support.

He also quoted the British government saying they would not have won the war against the invading Japanese without the support of the Nagas.

He said a hostel was under construction on the Indo-Myanmar border at Pangsha in Tuensang district for poor students from the area and for Nagas from Myanmar.

Graham Stain, a member of the UK delegation, said, “We want to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to Nagas for helping us.” The war veterans are also sponsoring seven students from Kohima village that had borne the brunt of World War II. The entire village was reduced to ashes and many were killed.

Parents and guardians of the students attended the programme. The students also wrote acknowledgement letters to the members of the trust for extending financial assistance to them.

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