Legacy of Unity: The Story of SAS Alumni Association
The history of the Alumni Association of the School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University, dates back to 15th June 2000, where ad-hoc office bearers of the association was formed and only during the first General Conference on the 5th of September 2000 of former students of SASRD (erstwhile College of Agriculture, NEHU) convened at the RD Seminar Hall, SAS, Medziphema campus, full-fledged Association was formed.
During this meeting, it was decided to form the “Alumni Association” of School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University, Medziphema and the idea was initiated by a few senior alumni Shri. Hoto Yeptho, Dr. K. Kire, Shri. Metsübo Jamir, Shri. K. Neibou Sekhose and Prof. Akali Sema whose efforts led to the official establishment of the Association on that day marking the beginning of a collective journey to bring together all former students of the institution. The first office bearers elected were Shri. K. Neibou
Sekhose as President and Prof. Akali Sema as the General secretary and thus laying a strong foundation for its functioning in the years to follow. The first meeting minutes of Alumni Association of School of Agricultural Sciences & Rural Development (AASASRD) is attached.
Motto and Objectives
The Association adopted the motto “Quest for knowledge in the service of people” which continues to inspire their activities. The core aims and objectives of the Association are to promote a sense of unity and belonging among alumni members, safeguard their rights and privileges and provide a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas to foster growth and development in agriculture and allied fields. From its inception, the Association has striven to create a vibrant network of former students, working collectively towards the advancement of both the institution and the larger community.
Emblem and Flag of the Association
To give the Association a distinct identity, an open competition for the design of its emblem was organized among SASRD students with the winning design was created by Shri Temjentoshi, a B.Sc. (Agri.) 2nd Year student, whose presentation was selected for its symbolism and relevance and was felicitated with a cash award and citation during the Alumni Meet held in October 2003. The emblem reflects the Association’s commitment to excellence in service, prosperity in agriculture, and the promotion of peace and unity among members worldwide.
The Association flag, green in colour with the emblem at its centre, was formally unfurled on 19th October 2003 during the Alumni Meet held as part of the SASRD Silver Jubilee celebrations. To commemorate the occasion, friendly football and tug-of-war matches were played between SASRD students and alumni members, symbolizing camaraderie and the enduring connection between the past and present generations and the Association also donated a monolith, which was erected to mark the Silver Jubilee celebration, standing as a lasting tribute to the institution’s legacy.
Milestones and Activities
The first General Conference of the Alumni Association was held on 5th September 2001 to honor the teachers whose dedication and guidance had shaped the lives of countless students. Under the able leadership of the first office bearers, several landmark initiatives were undertaken in the early years. Among these, the construction of the Alumni Guest House stands out as a significant achievement, completed through the collective efforts and contributions of members. The conceptualization for guest house construction for the alma mater took place during the meeting on the 12th of October 2006. Fund drive was initiated for the guest house project through lottery draw with attractive prizes including Scorpio car in the year 2008 which got a huge response from our Alumni members especially from Nagaland and this helped the association contribute Rs. 13.50 lakhs to the guest house construction especially the foundation part and also to keep an amount in fixed deposit and use the interest earned from it to give an award for topper of B.Sc. (Ag.) to this day. The balance amount required for the guest house construction was met through collection from alumni members. Special credit is due to Shri. Hoto Yepthomi, who took the lead and ensured the successful completion of the project, demonstrating the spirit of commitment and service that defines the Association. The Foundation stone of the guest house was laid by Shri Chotisüh Sazo, former Parliamentary Secretary, Social Welfare, Child & Women Development, Govt. of Nagaland on 20th October 2012. The guesthouse was officially handed over to Nagaland University on 31st August 2016 by Shri P. Longon, the then Honourable Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Nagaland in the presence of Former Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, Lt. Prof. Pardeshi Lal.
Constitution of the Association
Draft of the constitution was prepared by the General Secretary in the year 2003 and approved by the general body (Cover page enclosed).
Annual Alumni Meet Tradition
An important tradition that evolved over time was the celebration of the Annual Alumni Meet on 20th October each year, coinciding with the Foundation Day of SASRD. These annual gatherings became a cherished occasion for alumni to reconnect with their batchmates, seniors, juniors and teachers, often after many years. During these meets, academic toppers were felicitated, and various activities and cultural programmes were organized. Over the years, additional merit awards were introduced for the toppers of each B.Sc. (Agri.) batch, made possible through the generous contributions of alumni.
The initiative of the Association has been the institution of the Alumni Award to recognize academic excellence among students where the award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- along with a citation (from 2014 amount has been increased to Rs. 20,000), and is presented annually to the topper of the B.Sc. (Agri.) degree programme and the first recipient of this prestigious award was Ms. Ruth Assumi, who received the award on 20th October 2003. In addition to this, three more awards were sponsored separately by various alumni for the toppers of B.Sc. (Ag.)1st, 2nd & 3rd year students. The Peri Om Pun Excellence Award – is presented to the topper of the 1st year, sponsored by Dr. Umed Pun (7th Batch), R2 Seeds Excellence Award – is presented to the topper of the 2nd year, sponsored by Shri. C. Narayan Rao (8th Batch) and Late Cherish Ch. Marak Excellence Award – is presented to the topper of the 3rd year, sponsored by Smt. Thera Ch. Marak (8th batch) and each of these awards comprises a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a certificate.
A Monolith was donated by the Alumni Association of SASRD in commemoration of Silver Jubilee which was unveiled by Shri. Shyamal Datta, the then Governor of Nagaland on 20th October 2003.
A Student’s corner was donated by 5th batch of SASRD (Class of 1982), inaugurated by Shri. Hoto Yeptho, Former Director of Land Resources, Govt. of Nagaland on 20th of October 2016.
Different batches took turns sponsoring the annual meets as a way of giving back to their alma mater.
Growth and Sustenance of the Association
The growth and sustenance of the Association over the years have been made possible through the dedication and leadership of successive office bearers who have served in various capacities since the inception; their commitment has played a crucial role in preserving unity and continuity among alumni, spanning from the earliest batches of 1983 to the present day.
The Association gratefully acknowledges the invaluable role of teachers, whose dedication and guidance laid the foundation for the professional and personal growth of every alumnus. Their contributions have been celebrated in various alumni events, with special honor during the first General Conference in 2001 and they will always be remembered moulding us into the person we are today.
Legacy and Future Vision
All these achievements and milestones have been realized through the voluntary and generous contributions of alumni members, along with registration fees and special funds collected for various purposes. The continued support and cooperation of alumni from across the world have been vital in transforming the vision of the Association into a vibrant reality.
Today, the Alumni Association of SAS stands as a symbol of shared heritage, service and excellence and continues to look forward to the active participation and support of all its members to take the Association to greater heights in the years to come. The spirit and legacy of the Association are best captured in the words: “Long Live AASAS” (erstwhile AASASRD), a testament to the enduring bond that unites SASRDians across generations.