The Naga Morung: A call to action for younger generation

Morung Express News
Kohima | August 15

With the primary objective to instil dignity in young Nagas by educating them about the Naga history, and in commemoration of the 78th Naga Independence Day, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Wednesday organised ‘The Naga Morung’ under the theme ‘Kuknalim’ at NBCC Convention Centre, Kohima.

The event aimed to provide the young minds with a comprehensive understanding of their history and political standing, foster a sense of pride, unity and purpose among the youth and also inspire the younger generation to actively engage in preserving and promoting Naga identity and heritage.

Nagas yesterday – The odyssey
Narrating the Naga odyssey of yesteryears, Neingulo Krome said ‘our’ journey can only be traced from 1832 onwards when the Britishers first came and invaded the land, as there were no written documents or records, except to refer to what other people have written about Nagas.

He recounted how the world of the Nagas of yesterday, was suddenly shattered with nightmares and never ending stories of human sufferings, deaths and destruction unknown and isolated to the outside world, even to its neighbours.

Krome also narrated in detail the birth of 9-Point Agreement, 16-Point Memorandum and the signing of the 1st Indo-Naga Ceasefire in 1964 and the Shillong Accord of November 11, 1975, which, he termed as attempt of the Government of India (GoI) to crush and destroy the Naga national movement for once and for all, but it failed miserably.

Subsequently, he recalled how the situation created the emergence of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland in January 1980, to continue leading to the chapter of the 2nd Indo-Naga Ceasefire of 1997.

The signing of the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 was certainly another historic and an undeniable win-win achievement for both the GoI and the Naga people, he viewed. 

However, as history repeats itself, Krome said the GoI started its habitual back-tracking which has become the sole contention towards reaching its logical conclusion.

‘Therefore, all said and done, the question of the day is, are we not back to square one? If so, what lies ahead?’ he asked.

Nagas today – The Crossroad 
Highlighting the challenges facing the Naga community today, Dr Phyobemo Ngullie stated that Nagas cannot remain complacent or procrastinate, but must strive together towards ‘our’ destiny.

In a though provoking message, he painted a vivid picture of the current state of the Nagas, where  ‘our’ sacred causes are desecrated, education with no employment, houses without homes, ‘our’ subsistence dependent on ‘free ration’ and ‘our’ relationships built on trust deficits.

“At our best, we only bring out the worst in us,” he stated reminding the warnings of ‘our’ foregathers that people would be reduced to ‘miniature humans climbing chilly and brinjal trees.’

He observed that the challenges facing the community are not the result of any single factor, but of some unknown, invisible but pervasive factors that could be slowly and steadily eroding the fabric of Naga society. 

Dr Ngullie attributed the ‘trauma,’ particularly the psychological scars left behind by historical conflicts, as one of the key contributors to the current state of affairs.

Another issue, Dr Ngullie pointed out, is the ‘entitlement mindset’ that has taken root in parts of the community. “People with an entitlement mindset often believe they are above others and nothing is wrong with them” he stated.

Nagas tomorrow: The vision
“The vision for Nagas tomorrow is more is more than, just a vision – it’s a movement that seeks to bring lasting peace to our homeland, built on the principles of justice, equality and reconciliation,” stated Prof Rosemary Dzüvichü.

Sharing her vision for the future, she asserted that the Naga community must first embrace its rich heritage while forging a path towards a united, peaceful, and prosperous tomorrow. 

She also emphasised the importance of drawing strength from the past, stating “our political struggle continues till today, because we are a resilient nation, brave and proud of our rich culture and traditions, and born from forefathers that believed in freedom.”

Consequently, she maintained that central to this vision is the empowerment of youth, who are the key drivers of change. The younger generation, she said must be empowered to take up the mantle of leadership and involve in peace building and peacemaking in ‘our’ society.

“It is about empowering our younger generation with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become leaders, innovators and change makers in their own right,” stated Dzüvichü.

This, she maintained can be achieved through education, cultural exchange, community engagement and economic empowerment to build a just and lasting peace. Let us come together to make Nagas Tomorrow a reality. 

Education, according to Dzüvichü, is the most powerful weapon in the fight for a better tomorrow, and encouraged young leaders to harness the power of knowledge.

She called on the collective efforts to invest “in our youth, in our culture and in our collective future” adding “we owe it to ourselves, our children and the generations to come, a future where our children can live with dignity, freedom and hope. A future where our culture flourishes and our people thrive in prosperity.”