Zaputou-ü Angami Mother of Orphanages
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Zaputou-ü Angami
Mother of Orphanages
Some 5 kms from Kohima town on the Dimapur road, National Highway 39, the 102 odd children in the Kohima Orphanage and Destitute Home (KODH) melodiously sing “This is a wonderful day.”
Zaputou-ü, an Angami lady hailing from Dihoma Village, under Kohima district is currently running a destitute home. The home, established for the welfare of orphans some three decades back in 1973 was founded by Mother Zaputuo-ü Angami, the present President of the Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home.
The foundation was laid by Mrs Zaputuo Angami in 1973, when she, a nurse in the Kohima Government hospital witnessed the ugly side of human destiny. One day, a woman died in the hospital after giving birth to a baby boy. However, the grief stricken father, instead of parenting the child, left the baby behind. Moved by the soulful cries of the baby, Mrs. Zaputuo Angami, who was the widow of an army jawan and mother to a year old baby girl, took a decision which changed the whole course of their life. She brought the child home and named him Dezelie Angami.
Thus the chain began. Abandoned children were brought by her from thickly wooded areas in Kohima and from cemeteries. Or parents themselves came and dumped their children with her either due to poverty or due to the child being born out of wedlock.
Since its inception till date, the mother has taken care of 650 children some of whom have joined the Indian 
army, some have become Government servants while some married and are now well settled with their families.
The present generation consisting of 102 children has 82 males and 20 females. The youngest of them is the just a 2 (two) month old female child. Most of the children are locals whose parents were activists of the various underground factions and who were killed in some factional clashes or by some activists of rival factions.
Presently there are around 35 children attending various schools within Kohima. The school authorities have admitted the students into their schools without any fees. A few of them are also attending college.
It may be mentioned here that Mother Zaputuo-ü had established the Kohima Orphanage near Jotsoma on the land allotted by the Nagaland Government, however they had to vacate the place as some of the people of the locality did not want orphans to be sheltered in their place.
Nestled in the backdrop of rugged mountain ranges, this orphanage provides refuge to children bereft of their near and dear ones or abandoned by their parents. Run only through donations in cash and kind made by the occasional visitor, this orphanage also takes care of their holistic growth by providing good education and healthcare facilities. It aims at securing a better life for the children and helping them become self reliant through its work on education, vocational education, health and rehabilitation.
Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Amway India Enterprises Pvt Ltd, unveiled Project Sunrise in Kohima on December 10, 2009 . This project is part of the global welfare initiative for the less privileged child. AOF will partner Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home, oldest orphanage in Kohima that works for children
“Project Sunrise is supported by Amway’s the Global CSR initiative - One by One, and will extend to 56 orphanages across the country. This Project commemorates Amway’s 50th year anniversary. In India, AOF will engage partnerships with NGOs to support on-going education, healthcare (with focus on access to safe drinking water) and nutrition,” Mr Pinckney. Interestingly, Amway considers all its employees and distributors, as AOF volunteers. Earlier, AOF had also worked for the children of Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home by providing them donation.
The octogenarian Mrs. Zaputuo-ii in 2003 decided to donate her eyesight to anyone, after her demise, so that “a person who uses my eyesight could see the light of the world for even a hour.”
Her home is registered under the Indian Societies Act, but for reasons unknown, no funds had been given to them in recent years.
The bespectacled Ama (Mother) – as the people prefer to call her- in a sanguine voice says “Though we can not repay anyone, in our prayers we always remember you for your continuous support and help.”
Mrs. Zaputuo Angami has also started a primary school with the help of her daughter, Mrs. Neibanuo Angami and other family members, which is recognized by the Nagaland Board of School Education. The school has now been provided with three government teachers.
In 2004 she received Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa . The Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award was instituted on August 20, 1994 on the occasion of the 50th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.
Last year, Mrs. Zaputou Angami, president KODH, was one among the 24 conferred with “Read Heroes” by CNN-IBN - India’s Best News Channel and Reliance Industries Limited – India’s largest private sector enterprise. She is the lone awardee from the East India.
In insurgency torn Nagaland, the Kohima Orphanage founded by Zaputuo still stands as a symbol of love and strength for children without a home or parents. Children from different parts of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar are all proud members of Kohima Orphanage. Zaputou has, in a true sense, set an example worthy of emulation for the society.
‘Real Heroes’ is an annual celebration that felicitates and recognizes the triumph of the human spirit. In its second year, this initiative honours the real-life heroes in our society who have worked selflessly to make a difference and serve a cause, in their own inimitable way, thereby setting a precedence several hundreds could follow. This year, one out of the total 24 Real Heroes being honoured, one is from Nagaland.
