THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
(A brief life sketch of S. Süpongmeren Jamir, MP (LS) as I know – biblical perspective)
“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4).
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
The struggle of S. Süpongmeren Jamir, the newly elected MP (LS) from Nagaland, has taught us that failure is not the end so long you determined to fight it out. When asked around my friends about Süpongmeren, I would never imagine it would be such a motivational as this. So, I thought, many would learn good lesson from it and continue their life’s struggle without negative attitude. I believe, life is sweet when you survive from all manners of failures one after another knowing life itself is a struggle and not a bed of roses.
I first met S. Süpongmeren Jamir, the Ex-MLA, in the office chamber of my boss Dr. Temsüwati, the then Additional Development Commissioner at Kohima in 2012 when I was serving as District Planning Officer. My boss introduced him to me.
S. Süpongmeren Jamir, son of Shilumangyang Jamir is from Longsa village under Mokokchung district of Nagaland. His father died quite early leaving him and his sister. During his school days, he used to fetch firewood both for home and Assam Rifles for sale. With little proceeds from those manual labour he buy pen, pencil and exercise books for his schooling.
On a particular day, a philanthropist from Ungma village, one Imsümeren Imsong, came to Longsa village and took him to Mokokchung town for schooling. After his graduation, one day, in 1989, while he was in his jhum field, his villagers came and requested him to contest the General Secretary post of Naga Students Federation (NSF) representing AKM (Ao Students Conference). While hesitating for want of proper dress for the occasion, one of his villagers immediately arranged one suit for him. With that he went to NSF Conference and and was elected as General Secretary of of NSF for 1989-1991.
As and when his tenure ends as General Secretary of NSF, he was appointed as PS to the then Minister N.I Jamir. After that, the then Chief Minister S.C. Jamir, on seeing his sincerity and dedication, appointed him as his PS again. When the opportunity came, he was awarded INC ticket to contest State Assembly Election from 25.Mongoya AC in 2003 when the political dynamics in Nagaland changed to different direction altogether then.in spitevofvit, he won and became MLA for 5 years till 2008. It is learnt that during his days as MLA, he used to carry files by himself to even down to the LDA/UDAs and addressing them as “Sir/Madam.” A man of humility, absence of ego, and down to earth. He helped appointed many of his supporters in many different government jobs.
As we all know, Nagaland spends large sum of money during elections, especially during State Assembly Elections. He contested again as INC candidate in 2008. Unfortunately, he lost. After the defeat the 2008 election, election dues mounted up. He faced instability in the family with serious financial burdens which eventually le him to lose his private building in Kohima and other properties. He has 4 children – 3 girls and a boy, all graduated now. He single handedly supported his 4 children grown to manhood and womanhood. He now lives in a rented house in Old Minister’s Hill, Kohima.
He never changed his political allegiance, remained faithful to INC since the inception of his political career. As a reward of his loyalty to the Party, he was appointed as the President of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on 31 March 2023, the position he still holds.
As the Parliamentary Election 2024 draws closer, as a responsible President of NPCC, I am told that he approached and requested several ‘prospective’ candidates to contest on INC ticket. None of them agreed to his request. At last, after struggling fir sometime, he recommended 3 names for INC ticket to the Congress Election Committee in Delhi. To his utter surprise, instead of one from those recommended names, his name came as the INC official candidate for the lone Nagaland-1 Parliamentary Constituency. Rahul Gandhi personally has chosen him. Initially, he himself could not believe what was happening. Many detractors within his party expressed their displeasures. He had no money. Forget about winning, even campaigning was seen impossible. At last, he decided, “I know, winning is impossible at this juncture, but as the President, I have to take the responsibility and as entrusted, I have to sacrifice for the sake of the Party. Come what may!” They opened a special Bank Account to ask donations from well wishers for Rlection campaign. A Fortuner car was donated by one of his villagers for his campaign. To the utter surprise of the people and himself, as well as to his esteem colleagues, spontaneous support of the people emerged. Hardly, he could visit district headquarters leaving aside 6 distructs in ENPO area where the people have boycotted the Assembly Election. Even after the voting on 19th April, in spite of the spontaneous support surged all over Nagaland, winning was not guaranteed then. However, to the utter pleasant surprise of the people of Nagaland, he won by 50,984 votes! People went hysterical all over the state of Nagaland. The positive impact of INC, which was diminished to almost a none entity, particularly in Nagaland state, was awakened to the extend where ex-MLAs, returning yo the INC party.
Well, it seems, this kind of journey of success was written way back in 10th Century BC where the wise King Solomon taught his people, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4). That means, if you can give two things to God – “Humility” and “the fear of the Lord,” God will give you three things – “riches, honour and life.” Also, our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). Today, Süpongmeren’s meek nature has now been rewarded by God. He has inherited the blessing of an opportunity to represent Nagaland which hitherto he did not even dreamed of. God’s ways are mysteriously wonderful. Winning a Lok Sabha election beating money power, the strength of the whole 60 MLAs by a poor man without money power, house, or any stable source of income is nothing but a miracle. And this miracle is nothing but God Himself.
Süpongmeren has struggled with unfair treatment of life for 16 years. He was literally struggling in the dark side of life for all these years. Rahul Gandhi when he came to Nagaland as part of “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra” advised Süpongmeren how to set straight his life style going beyond professional boundaries. The impact was spontaneous. Immediately he reformed for better wherever found necessary.
At last, God, who can reads human heart, has rewarded a humble, meek Süpongmeren with a gift he could never ever imagine thereof. His life is nothing short of all thise miracles written in the Bible – a testimony and motivational for all struggling people today.
The lesson: Stand firm, remain faithful, work while waiting for opportunity to come your way. Sooner or later, you will be rewarded with a gift from God you can never imagine thereof. Psalms 22:4, Matthew 5:5 and Romans 8:38 are still true. Yes, better believe it. Yes, God still cares who loves Him.
P.S: I did not vote for him.
S. AKHO LEYRI
Kohima, June 9, 2024.