Ukhrul, July 31 | EKHON: The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) on Friday felicitated 45 outstanding individuals, including 36 Top Performers and nine Top Achievers, at the 6th TKS Top Performers and Achievers Award 2026, recognising academic excellence and achievements across various fields.
The award ceremony was held at TBG 125 Hall, TBCA Mission Compound, Alungtang, Ukhrul, with Ram Muivah, MLA of 44-Ukhrul (ST) Assembly Constituency, as the Chief Guest.
The Top Performers category recognised students who excelled in their Class X and XII board examinations, while the Top Achievers category honoured individuals for outstanding accomplishments in different fields. Among this year’s achievers were three individuals who successfully cleared the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) Civil Services Examination.
Addressing the gathering, TKS President Ramreichan Keishing said the annual award was not merely a ceremony for presenting honours but an initiative to recognise excellence, celebrate perseverance and inspire younger generations to strive for greater heights.
However, Keishing expressed concern over the declining number of awardees. He noted that the inaugural edition of the award had more than 100 awardees, whereas only 45 individuals are being felicitated this year despite the selection criteria remaining unchanged since the award’s inception six years ago.
He said the decline should serve as a reminder to the community to work harder towards nurturing academic excellence and creating an environment in which more young people can realise their full potential.
“Your achievement is the result of hard work, discipline and determination,” Keishing told the awardees, while reminding them that their recognition also carries a responsibility towards society. He urged them to return with the knowledge, skills and experience they acquire and contribute meaningfully to the progress and well-being of the community.
Chief Guest Ram Muivah also stressed the importance of discipline, character and education, saying excellence in education or any other field deserves recognition.
Recalling the history of Tangkhul academic achievement, Muivah said that in 1971, four Tangkhul students achieved Second Division results for the first time, describing it as an important milestone. He specifically recalled Dr SK Ngachan, who later became an ICAR scientist, and Louis Ngasainao among the pioneers.
Muivah emphasised three key principles for success, discipline, willingness to pay the price for achievement, and investment in human resources.
He said every worthwhile achievement comes at a price, whether through sweat, tears or sacrifice, and urged the awardees to remain prepared to make such sacrifices in pursuit of their goals.
Observing that the region’s limited infrastructure, including inadequate roads and electricity, constrains entrepreneurship and economic opportunities, Muivah said education remains the community’s greatest hope.
He called for greater investment in human resources, citing Singapore and Taiwan as examples of societies that achieved development by capitalising on their human resources despite having limited natural resources.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s emphasis on character, Muivah said society must give renewed importance to character and discipline, expressing concern that the younger generation is gradually losing some of the values that previous generations held in high regard.
Among the Class XII awardees, Vashungphi Kaping of Model Higher Secondary School, Kohima, topped the Arts stream among students from other boards with 94.6 per cent, while Chumihor Vashai Zimik of Patkai Christian Academy, Ukhrul, secured the second position with 93 per cent.
In the COHSEM Arts category, Nihayu Shingtuidang of KTL Excel Higher Secondary School topped with 83 per cent, followed by Amy Zimik of Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School with 81.6 per cent.
In the Science stream among students from other boards, Ramreingam Luiram of Narayana E-Techno School, New Delhi, topped with 91.6 per cent, followed by Shonhorrin Raising of JNV Jessami with 86.2 per cent.
Under the COHSEM Science category, Vimi Raingam of Herbert School, Imphal, secured the top position with 91 per cent, followed by Komrivinuh M. Solo, also of Herbert School, with 86.2 per cent.
The TKS said the annual awards seek not only to honour individual excellence but also to inspire more young people within the Tangkhul community to pursue academic and professional excellence and contribute to society.
The programme concluded with a renewed call for discipline, hard work, character-building and greater investment in human resources, with TKS President Keishing quoting Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.“
