Neiliezhü Üsou
Neiliezhü Üsou | |
---|---|
Born | Nerhema, Naga Hills District, Assam Province, British India (Now Nerhema, Kohima District, Nagaland, India) | 7 July 1941
Died | 30 January 2009 | (aged 67)
Spouse |
Rüülhou-ü Üsou (m. 1965) |
Children | 7 |
Awards | Bharat Jyoti Award (2000),
International Gold Star Award (2001), Jawaharlal Nehru Excellence Award (2001) |
Neiliezhü Üsou (7 July 1941 – 30 January 2009) was an Indian
Early life, education and family
Neiliezhü Üsou was born on 7 July 1941 to an Angami Naga family from Nerhema Village. His father, Putsolie Üsou, was the village head. His early education was at the village primary school. He came from a non-Christian family, and was inspired to become a missionary by witnessing B. I. Anderson, an American missionary, and his wife playing piano accordion during their visit to Nerhema Village Baptist Church in 1951, led by Kenneth Kerhüo. He was baptised by water on 13 March 1953, from Rev. Kevizelie.[1] He joined the
Üsou joined Baptist English School in Kohima as teacher and married the youngest daughter of Rev. Zhapuzhülie Sekhose, Rüülhou-ü, on 18 December 1965, at the age of 24. Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou and his wife Rüülhou-ü had seven children: three sons and four daughters.
Ministry
Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC)
After his theological studies he joined the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) as Superintendent of Mission Hostel under ABCC from 1966 to 1968 and also in 1971. He also served as Youth Director of ABCC in 1968, 1971 and as Youth Promoter in 1972. He started Nagaland Christian Youth Movement (NCYM) in 1970 and Angami Youth Gospel Team (AYGT) in 1971 as the Director respectively.[3]
The ABCC gave him license in 1974 and in 1975 he was appointed as Evangelist-at-Large and held the same post until 1977. He was the Vice President of the ABCC during 1987 to 1989.[4]
Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC)
Üsou was the first Honorary Youth Director of
Üsou along with other members of Nagaland Peace Council met the then
He attended the 16th
Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI)
In 1974 he was sent by the
Ministers' Hill Baptist Church (MHBC)
Üsou was installed as full-time pastor on 1 October 1978, at
The Royal British Legion (RBL)
Üsou served as Officiating
He chaired the
Revival crusades
He conducted several
Music
Apart from his education in Church music, Üsou did a Condensed Piano Course from Kolkata in 1972 to equip himself better. He played several
Üsou was a
School of Music
He established the first government-approved institute for
Governmental engagement
Üsou was closely associated with successive Governments in Nagaland. Some of his notable engagements with the Government were:
- During the occasion of distribution of tickets to a Political party for Nagaland general election in 1987[24] by the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, he offered Dedicatory prayer for the candidates and for peaceful election.[25]
- He dedicated the newly built Nagaland State Secretariat Building with over 200 rooms on 30 May 1994.
- He peace rally held on 13 March 1999, participated by thousands of people where Sonia Gandhi was the Chief Guest.[26]
- He offered dedicatory prayer at the inauguration of the newly built Governor's Office, the Naga Bhavan,Raj Bhavan, Kohimaon 15 August 1999.
- He also invoked God's blessing for the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima on 26 July 2000.
- During the Governor of Nagaland, Om Prakash Sharma, and delivered the farewell message at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
- He offered invocation prayer on the public reception to the new Governor of Nagaland, Shyamal Datta on 4 February 2002.[28]
- He offered dedicatory prayer at the inauguration of the Multi Purpose Sports Complex at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, on 1 August 2007, where Union Minister for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mani Shankar Aiyar, was the Chief Guest.
Other community activities
- He was twice Chairman of Kohima Baptist Pastors' Fellowship (KBPF)[29][30] in 1982 and from 1995 to 2004. Prompted by the resolution passed on 27 March 1984, by the Kohima Baptist Pastors' Fellowship that Tribal tunes and songs could be used in Christian worship, an Indigenous Tribal Music Concert was organized at Kohima College Auditorium under his chairmanship on 8 June 1984, which was wholeheartedly participated by all Naga Tribal Churches in Kohima.
- He was the President of All Nagaland Baptist Pastors' Union (ANBPU) from 1994 till 1999 and President of Kohima Baptist Church Council (KBCC) from 1999 till 2001. One of Üsou's most remarkable achievement is that under his leadership the Kohima Baptist Pastors' Fellowship (KBPF) organized a mass denominations from all over Kohima city, in thousands, took part.[31]
- He
- He was the
Awards and honors
Neiliezhü Üsou was awarded the prestigious
He was conferred
Works
Üsou researched
He compiled a number of song books which are widely used in school assemblies and revival meetings. His book Elementary Music is used in Nagaland Schools as an externally assessed subject approved by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).[40] He also wrote a book on Naga Music, Naga Identity[41] which was published in 2007.
Later years
He fell sick in the first part of 2006 and was admitted to
Under his Chairmanship his native village Nerhema Baptist Church successfully celebrated
His family band Üsou's Instrumental Praise gave a music concert at the State Academy Hall, Kohima on 25 October 2007, under the theme "Transcend" which was attended by the State Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues and many well-wishers. Üsou's performance in this concert is seen as his last public performance.
Declining health and death
His health deteriorated and he was once again rushed to Apollo Hospital, New Delhi and in the month of November 2007, he was shifted to
Üsou died on 30 January 2009, at Naga Hospital, Kohima.
Legacy
Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou Memorial Award for Music
For his contribution to the growth of music in Nagaland, an award in Music was instituted and approved by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).
Anniversary of death
His first
Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Usou Memorial School (RDNUMS)
A school was established and inaugurated on 27 July 2013, by the Chief Minister of Nagaland.[50] The school follows a structured, play based curriculum.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Neiliezhu Usou's profile "Profile Talk" in the MHBC Youth Quarterly Bulletin "TRAIL" 2005
- ^ "Dr. Frederick S. Downs". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ A visionary Church Leader
- ^ a b Positions held
- ^ A Brief History of Youth Department www.nbcc.in
- ^ Billy Graham in Kohima pdf
- ^ Billy Graham Kohima Crusade 1972 Christianity Today
- ^ Nagaland Peace Council Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine "Dawn of Peace in Nagaland": Govt. of Nagaland website
- ^ NPC observes Peace Day Rev. Dr. N. Üsou and NPC
- ^ detail of "NPC" members meeting Mrs. Indira Gandhi Naga struggle for sovereignty: its past and the probable future
- ^ "Nagaland Church oppose review of liquor prohibition". Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act 1989(NLTP) Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine NBCC on total prohibition of liquor
- ^ BWA Congress 1990 at Seoul, South Korea Archived 18 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine A Survey of Baptist World Alliance Conversations with other Churches and some implications for Baptist Identity.
- ^ Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima, Nagaland Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Rev.Dr.Neiliezhü Üsou, Pastor MHBC, 16 June 1998
- ^ Kohima War Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
- ^ Kohima War Cemetery Govt. of Nagaland website
- ^ Royal British Legion revisits war memories "Officiating Chaplain Rev. Dr. N. Üsou conducts memorial Service marking the 60th anniversary of the Second World War" Nagalim.NL News retrieved 10/16/2005
- ^ Japanese war delegation in Kohima, Nagaland, India timesofindia.com retrieved 11/12/2002
- ^ Billy Kim in Nagaland Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Billy Kim's official website
- ^ Roger Houstma in Nagaland, India Christian missionaries and Christian NGOs in India Preparing for the harvest truecongresspolitics.wordpress.com
- ^ "The Church is not a stationary institution, but a movement". The Morung Express. 5 February 2010. Account and programme of ABCC's "125 years of Christianity" celebration in Kohima, includes listing of Üsou's Instrumental Praise performance. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011.
- ^ Neiliezhu Usou, the founding proprietor of School of Music, Kohima nagalim.co.uk
- ^ "courses offered by SOM, Kohima". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ^ Nagaland General Election 1987 pdf
- ^ Indian Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi in Nagaland pdf
- ^ Sonia Gandhi in Nagaland and Manipur Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine peace rally/public meeting attended by Sonia Gandhi: headlines Oriental Times vol. 1 Issue 42-43 Mar 22 – 6 April 1999
- ^ Naga Bhavan Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Raj Bhavan (the Governor's House) in Govt. of Nagaland website
- ^ Shri. Shyamal Datta assumes Office as the new Governor of Nagaland Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine www.indlii.org
- ^ a b Condolences for late Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü
- ^ the two-day joint workshop between the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA) and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), from 25-26 November 2002, at Japfü Hotel, Kohima the Kohima Town Baptist Pastors Fellowship (KTBPF) holding a special service with the BPFNA delegates at the Rivenberg’s Memorial Hall, Mission Compound, Kohima, on 24 November 2002 asiantribune.com
- ^ Rev. Neiliezhü, chairman of the Kohima Town Pastors' Fellowship (KBPF), speaks to "The Telegraph" Naga eves hum equality tune on Easter
- ^ 11/3/1993 India releases David Ward and Stephen Hillman, British Naga-Vigil members The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): "Chronology for Nagas in India" published in 2004
- ^ Naga Vigil
- ^ Shisha Hoho prayer support & vision for the Naga people
- ^ Naga Shisha Hoho's role in bringing peace to Nagaland Chronology of Naga Movement
- ^ Nagas pledge for unification Nagalim News
- ^ List of people awarded Honorary Degrees at IICM website
- ^ IICM India
- ^ a b "Rev. Dr. N. Üsou passes away". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "Elementary Music" by Rev. Dr. Neiliezhu Usou in NBSE syllabus Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine pdf
- ^ Books and Authors: Nagaland
- ^ "Rev. Dr. N. Üsou at the Naga Peace Convention 2008". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou passes away
- ^ Rev. Dr. N. Üsou's death mourned
- ^ Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio's speech at the funeral service of Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou at Ministers’ Hill Baptist Church, Kohima, 02/01/2009[permanent dead link] "He had great concern for bringing peace and harmony in our land through Christian healing and forgiveness. Despite going through the most difficult times he never lost hope and he showed tremendous courage in the face of adversity..."- the official website of the Nagaland Chief Minister
- ^ Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou laid to rest Late Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou, who died on 30 January at the Naga Hospital Kohima, was laid to rest at the family residence premises Kohima after the funeral service held at the Ministers' Hill Baptist Church, Kohima, Sunday afternoon: Nagaland Post
- ^ Awards for HSLC and HSSLC rank holders Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Disclosures Under Sec 4 of Right to Information Act 2005: Nagaland Board of School Education 02-07-2010
- ^ Sesino Savino awarded "Rev. Dr. Neiliezhü Üsou Memorial Award for Music" 2009 Eastern Mirror
- ^ "A tribute": first Death Anniversary of Late Rev. Dr. N. Üsou
- ^ Rio pays tribute to late Rev. Dr. Usou’s legacy: Nagaland Post 28/07/2013