Temjenchila Longkumer with her family and (right) with her birthday cake. Telegraph pictures

Jorhat, Oct. 25: Temjenchila Longkumer scored a century four years ago and is still going strong.

This grand old woman of Akumen village (Lirmen-B) along the Assam-Nagaland border in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district achieved another milestone yesterday.

She turned 104, becoming the oldest resident in the district.

“We are still looking for records. She could be the oldest woman in the state,” district welfare officer Bendangkokba Longkumer told The Telegraph today.

Temjenchila is the wife of Ayutongpang Longchar, who helped the villagers establish a school in the village way back in the seventies and served as a teacher there. He passed away in 1987. Temjenchila is also the sister of late Rev. L. Kijungluba, said to be the first missionary in Nagaland and executive secretary of Ao Baptist Church Association.

Blessed with five sons and three daughters, besides 55 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren and 11 great great-grandchildren, Temjenchila, celebrated her birthday at her residence with her family members and villagers.

All her children and a few grand and great-grandchildren were present to celebrate the occasion.

District informatics officer Tamgsu Wati Ao, who was also invited to attend the birthday celebrations, said it was a grand party and the preparations had been under way since January this year. “She had expressed her wish to her children, most of whom stays in different parts of Nagaland, to celebrate her birthday this year in a big way and arrangements were made accordingly,” Wati Ao said.

The entire village was invited, a cake arranged and the villagers wished her happy birthday and prayed for her good health.

“A prayer meeting was also held where Temjenchila spoke briefly and appealed to the villagers to live in peace and harmony,” Wati Ao said.

When asked about the secret of her good health, Temjenchila promptly told the gathering that she had always led “a true Christian life” with honesty.

“Early to bed and early to rise was one of her principles,” Wati Ao said, quoting her.

The official said the good thing about the grand old woman was the fact that she retains interest in day-to-day happenings around her tiny village, including prices of essential commodities.

“She is even aware of the price of a kilo of potato,” Wati Ao said.

The informatics officer said unlike other old people, Temjenchila is very enthusiastic and has a proactive approach to the conservation, including protection of forests and wildlife even at this age. “She believes in conservation and always cautions villagers to protect the forests,” Wati Ao said.