Nagas in the 21st Century: International Webinar on Nov 26

October 19, 2020 557 Views No Comment

NAGA SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION

INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR

Theme: ‘Living in the Present: Nagas in the 21^st Century’

November 26th-28th 2020

Concept Note

Living in the present implies an awareness and sensitivity to the current developments in the 21st century. It also means envisioning ways in which constructive dialogues take into consideration ways of reflecting on the past, understanding the present, and working towards a shared future together. It is a combination of these collective strategies which will equip an indigenous society in transition, like the Naga people, to overcome the challenges we face. The purpose of this NSA’s International Webinar is to engage Nagas throughout the world in conversation on the state of the Naga people in the first quarter of the 21st century.

Nagas experienced globalization and militarization simultaneously. This has meant sorting and coping with constant changes: Sorting the changes that impinge upon Naga core values from those that enrich and expand us as a people; and coping with the differences that the rapid changes have brought about among us. So what constitutes a shared Naga identity today? How do we define Naga cultural values? And how do we negotiate from among the rich diversity of traditions, values we cherish and consider worthy of inculcating in the present and carrying forward into the future? In a similar vein, how do we contextualize and unpack the material and political realities of the present? What conceptual grid, structural model of political economy, or system of ethical responsibility and accountability can we reach for in these challenging times? Further, in an age and a world coming apart from the strains of extreme inequalities and environmental crisis, are there choices for indigenous societies, including the Nagas, other than to join the ranks of neo-liberalism’s global workforce? Do traditional Naga society and cultures offer better alternatives?

This conference invites Naga researchers, thinkers, and practitioners to share their work and reflections on these and other related challenges facing Naga society and local communities in the 21stcentury. NSA seeks to bring active scholars and thinkers in meaningful dialogue with one another, in hopes of finding interdisciplinary solutions to existing problems and brainstorming innovative pathways to the future. We invite works of analysis, interpretation, creative conceptual frameworks, and implementation blueprints from across the disciplines on the challenges of the Naga society including, but not limited to, the following: Government Programmes & Policies, Political Economy, Quality Education, Climate Change, Gender Issues, Mental Health, Identity, Politics & Leadership, Economic Sustainability, Civil society, Public Health & Infrastructure, Science & Technology, Folk tradition, Migration & Diaspora, Self-determination, Militarization, and Human Rights etc.

NSA invites abstract submission in the following areas (context to Naga society):

STATE, POLICIES & DEVELOPMENT:
1. Political Economy
2. Education
3. Economic Sustainability
4. Act East Policy
5. Unemployment
6. Art, Music, Sports & Entertainment
7. Industry, Trade and Commerce
8. Corruption
9. Land, Territory & Border

IDENTITY, CULTURE & LANGUAGE:
1. Historiography
2. Colonial and Post-colonial issues
3. Globalization and Multi-Culturalism
4. Self and others
5. Oral Tradition and Folklore
6. Customary Laws
7. Literature
8. Popular Culture
9. Food Culture
10. Race and Ethnicity

SOCIETY & SOCIAL ISSUE:
1. Civil Society /NGOs
2. Issues on illegal Immigrants
3. Gender
4. Social Justice

SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUE:
1. Ethnic Conflicts
2. Self-determination
3. Militarisation
4. Human Rights

HEALTH & SOCIETY:
1. Mental Health
2. Addiction/Counselling
3. Response to Covid-19 Pandemic & other diseases
4. Genetics, Genomic and Informatics
5. Health Infrastructure Scenario

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE:
1. Mining Issues
2. Deforestation
3. Global Warming
4. Agriculture/ Farming etc

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. Nanotechnology
2. Social Media & e-learning
3. Information, Communication & Technology
4. Emerging trends in IT
5. Plant Science
6. Flora & Fauna etc

TRADITION & MODERNIZATION:
1. Church and Christianity
2. Traditional Religions
3. Work Ethics
4. Leadership and Responsibility
5. Migration and Diaspora
6. Indigeneity

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: