Dialogue on state of the Naga people in the 21st century

Naga Republic News

The Naga Scholars’ Association is organizing an international webinar on the theme, ‘Living in the Present: Nagas in the 21^st Century’ scheduled from 26-28 November, 2020.

Some of the key highlights of the conference are: The International Webinar will be inaugurated by Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio. The conference keynote will be delivered by Prof.Paul Pimomo, Professor Emeritus, Central Washington University. The Valedictory keynote would be delivered by Rev.Dr.Wati Aier, Convener FNR & Professor Emeritus at OTS, Dimapur.

Eminent public intellectual Prof.Neera Chandhoke will be sharing her insights on the role of ‘Civil Society in Social Transformation, Prof.Sanjoy Harazrika, director, CHRI will be talking about his perspectives on conflict resolution in North East India. A well-known journalist Mr.Subir Bhaumik, Journalist, Author & Editorial Director at EasternLink will be participating in the panel discussion on Naga Peoplehood. Besides these, many eminent academicians, personalities, and scholars will be participating in the conference as chairpersons.

Dr.Zuchamo Yanthan, President, Naga Scholars’ Association has informed that the conference will witness a total number of 64 research papers from different universities and institutions from across the globe. The entire conference is divided into 14 technical sessions where 14 eminent academicians will Chair the sessions and several NSA members teaching in different universities and institutions will be engaged as session organizers, and most importantly, the sessions will be covered by 31 upcoming Naga researchers from some of the leading universities in India as rapporteurs.

Since the past decade, the NSA has been actively engaged in academic dialogues and conversations with some of the prominent academicians and intellectuals in the country and across the globe. The NSA today is acknowledged as one of the most dynamic academic organizations in the country having consistently engaged in academic discourses ranging from issues related to the state and the nation.

The forthcoming web conference has invited Naga researchers, thinkers, and practitioners from different universities across the globe to share their work, to interact with one another and to reflect upon the challenges the Naga society is faced with in contemporary times.

The theme ‘Living in the Present’ implies an awareness and sensitivity to the current developments of 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. 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.

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?

Hence, the main vision of the NSA’s International Webinar is to engage the Naga scholars throughout the world in a conversation on the state of the Naga people in the first quarter of the 21st century. The conference seeks to bring in some of the active scholars and thinkers for a meaningful dialogue with one another, in the hopes of finding interdisciplinary solutions to existing problems and brainstorming innovative pathways to the future.

Some of the major sub themes which will be discussed in the webinar are: Civil Society and Social transformation, Conflict Resolution, Identity and Nationalism, Environment and Climate Change, Heritage, Practices and representation, Gender Equality and Social Justice, State, Policies and development, Art and Oral Literature, Health and Society, Religion and World View, Naga Peoplehood, Information Technology and Digital learning tools, Gender, Laws and Social Change, Diaspora & Globalization, Orality, Tradition and Culture.