A teacher first
Sano Vamuzo’s public life joins education with women-led peacebuilding. According to her official Padma citation, she was born on 27 March 1940 in Phek, Nagaland. She took a BA from Gauhati University, a B.Ed. from Bombay University and an MA in Education from NEHU.
She taught in several schools, helped start the Mission English School at Chozuba (now Eastern Christian School), and was its first headmistress.
Shed No More Blood
In 1984 she became the founding president of the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA). The NMA strengthened social action on women’s rights, drug and alcohol abuse, health, education, economic exploitation and deforestation.
During the years of inter-factional violence, the NMA’s peace initiative “Shed No More Blood” mattered most. Women-led civil society tried to become a moral voice for dialogue and for protecting life in the middle of the violence.
Building institutions for women
In 2007 she became the first Chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for Women and served two terms. The NMA also worked on women’s representation, including reservation in urban local bodies.
The 2024 Padma Shri is a chance to see her not just as a “social worker”, but as an educator, institution-builder and advocate for peace.
Sources
- Padma Awards 2024: official citation
- Padma Awards 2024: awardees list
- India Today NE: profile
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/2024127.pdf
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/padmaaward/PadmaAwardees2024.pdf
- indiatodayne.in/nagaland/story/nagaland-padma-shri-awardee-sano-vamuzo-receives-warm-welcome-in-dimapur-1004624-2024-05-12