Kohima: In Kohima Village, Nagaland, April ends not with noise or spectacle but with a quiet sense of peace and gratitude. In a hall filled with soft murmurs and rows of silver-haired elders, April 30 feels less like a date and more like a moment of memory, belonging, and shared respect.
For residents, the last day of April carries meaning far beyond the calendar. For over two decades, it has been the day when the community pauses to honour those who have crossed 80 years: men and women who have witnessed change, held families together, and shaped the village through decades of transition.
This annual tradition is led by Friends of 80Plus, a grassroots initiative founded in 2002 by residents who believed that ageing should never mean invisibility.
The group, comprising around 30 members aged between 25 and 79, organises the gathering each year to celebrate the lives of the elderly. The 80-plus members themselves come from diverse backgrounds: farmers, government employees, teachers, doctors, and church workers.
What began as a modest effort has grown into a deeply rooted community institution, marking its 21st foundation year in 2026.
A gathering of memory
Inside Tsierama Hall this year, nearly a hundred elders gathered. Some walked in steadily, others were supported by children and grandchildren. Dressed in traditional Angami attire, they carried not just the weight of age but the quiet dignity of lived experience.
There were no grand speeches. Instead, the celebration unfolded through simple, meaningful moments, shared smiles, gentle conversations, and a communal meal.
The programme was chaired by Vilakuolie Mere and began with a prayer by Rev Vichülie Kelio, followed by a mass rendition of “Where We’ll Never Grow Old.” As octogenarians and nonagenarians joined in, their voices filled the hall, creating a moment that was both intimate and deeply moving.
Providing an update, organiser Medozhazo Rutsa said that as of 2026, the group has 227 registered members aged 80 and above. Over the past year, 20 new members were added, while 20 others passed away. A moment of silence was observed in remembrance.
Rutsa also shared the khel-wise distribution of those who passed away: Dapfhütsumia (D Khel), Lhisemia (L Khel), and Pfuchatsumia (P Khel) each recorded six deaths, while Tsütuonuomia (T Khel) recorded two.
Current membership spans across the village’s khels: 56 in D Khel, 100 in L Khel, 30 in P Khel, and 41 in T Khel, bringing the total to 227 members, including 84 men and 143 women.
The event also included free medical check-ups conducted by members of the Kohima Village Doctors Association, along with the distribution of gifts to the elders.
A steady tradition
Across much of the modern world, ageing has increasingly become an isolated experience. Smaller families and migration often pull younger generations away, leaving elders at the margins of daily life.
In Kohima Village, however, this annual gathering resists that shift.
Friends of 80Plus emphasises that caring for elders is not merely a social obligation but a reflection of the community’s identity and values. The organisation reiterated its commitment to ensuring that every senior citizen in the village lives with dignity, respect, and care.
This sense of togetherness draws from the traditional Angami system of Peli—a peer-group structure that once formed the backbone of social life. For many elders, growing up within this system meant that community bonds were central to everyday existence, shaping roles, responsibilities, and relationships.
That spirit continues today. Gatherings like this sustain bonds formed decades ago, offering a space for reconnection and shared memory. Locals say many senior citizens look forward to the event each year, as it gives them a rare opportunity to meet, reminisce, and share a meal.
As the day draws to a close, what remains is not just the memory of a gathering, but the quiet assurance of continuity—that in Kohima Village, age is not a margin, but a place of honour, and that this tradition will endure, year after year.
Also Read | Akiile in Bloom: How a Nagaland potato farm pioneered sustainable tourism
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI