EDITORIAL
INFOCUS
PERSPECTIVE
PUBLIC SPACE
MORUNG YOUTH EXPRESS
PEOPLE-LIFE-ETC
Youth and Naga Diaspora: A Sociological Enquiry April 9, 2015
Introduction I would like to explore two issues; firstly, to what extent ‘youth’ of the techno-savvy generation contributes to frame the structure of the present Naga society? Secondly, what can the Naga Diaspora or Non-Resident Nagas (NRN) contribute in shaping the destiny of the Nagas. There are more youth in contemporary India than rest of the world. The recent United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) demographic report said that 65% of India’s population is 35 or under, and half of it’s total population of 1.25 billion people is under 25 years of age. The UN report said that the emergence of a large youth population of unprecedented size could have a profound effect on any country. Further, the report reveals, “whether that effect is positive or negative depends largely on how well governments respond to young people’s needs and enable them to engage fully and meaningfully in civic and economic affairs.” I would like to assert that Nagaland shares a similar demographic picture. It is evident that the youth have critical responsibility to bring about a change if they possess necessary skills and are involved in the decision-making process. In simple words, the Naga youth need to take leadership roles in every sphere of life. Why am I raising questions on youth and Naga Diaspora and of their ability to contribute towards the society? The reason lies in the social fact using Emile Durkheim’s (a noted sociologist’s) perspective of an ever-increasing sense of loss, despair, frustration, and feeling of hopelessness among the majority of youth. I believe that Naga youth are increasingly encountering despair owing to the failure of the state and society. The state fails to respond to people’s needs and empower the youth. The state’s employment exchange revealed that around 60,000 educated unemployed youth have registered in 2013 but majority of them may not get government jobs even if they wait for more than a decade. Entrepreneurial and alternative skills need to be encouraged among the youth. The other problem is that, approach to education in school, college and university through teaching and research has been, perhaps to get a degree only, and not equipped with life and marketable skills. Annual employability reports confirm that most graduates are unemployable. It is a fact that several colleges and universities are degree-granting institutions only except those professional oriented institutions. Let me highlight an incident where a youth met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “Sir, I am a graduate and I need a job.” Modi asked him as to what he can do, and the youth replied again that he is a graduate. This story shows the agony of the majority of youth in India, as they were not taught that necessary skills in the marketplace would fetch a better life chance. Dale Archer, a medical doctor, psychiatrist and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association said, “Universities used to prepare young adults for the real world. I dare say the graduates today go in without a clue and graduate without a clue. It’s time to acknowledge the college degree is not worth what it was in the past. Times are changing, and so is the way we prepare our youth to survive in a competitive world.” Marketable skills are required to stay relevant. It is fundamental to the emergence of the state or nation to progress. During Jawaharlal Nehru’s period, the Government of India believed in building India’s economy by placing faith in the capitalists besides emphasizing on socialism and assumed that education and research would take care of themselves and run their course. The BJP government has not shown any progressive policies yet except a few such as to start IITs in every state across India. Their policy indicates the low priority to India’s education and research. For any state to progress, research findings should enhance the quality of people’s lives. Basic education skills are a pre-requisite to further progress.
FAITHLEAF
EXPRESS REVIEW
Why the Youth Shuns Politics? In the context of youth and politics, many Naga youth were not seen as candidates in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly. Perhaps, the older political patriarchs failed to accept an indisputable social fact that the involvement of youth in any political space or any setting begets creative and innovative ideas, which are needed for bringing about a tangible change in the society. The Constitution of India under Article 84 (b) specified a minimum age of 25 years to contest for Lok Sabha election. Similar provision exists for a candidate to the Legislative Assembly vide Article 173 (b) of the Indian Constitution read with Section 36 (2) of the R. P. Act, 1950. So far, Mr. R. Merentoshi Jamir, who is in mid-30s, remains the lone youngest elected MLA among the Nagas. If Mr. Jamir is the only young elected male politician, my Naga young sisters have to wait for a perceptible change in the minds of the people. In the history of Nagaland Legislative Assembly there was not a single Naga woman representative. During the 2013 general election in Nagaland, Dr. Yangerla and Mrs. Rakhila Lakhiumong contested from Mokokchung and Tuensang. However, both of them could not win the seat. The only comfort for women in general is that these two women have symbolically challenged the existing patriarchal system in Naga politics. What the Naga society should aspire is to promote and encourage the committed, techno-savvy, honest and humble youth to join in the decision making process in every field such as politics, religion, business, entrepreneurship, sports, media, music industry and the like. The youth are the force behind a change in several cultures. Their innovative and creative ideas, known as “social and cultural capital” in sociological perspective, may revolutionize the society. Some conscious Naga youth have successfully demonstrated their power to challenge the system of governance in a strategic manner. For instance, Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT Nagaland) attempts to cleanse the demonic system of corruption, illegal taxation and the like and demonstrates the power of Naga youth. It also indicates that the structure of Naga society could be influenced positively by the youth. There is no dearth of intelligent youth among the Naga people. Naga Diaspora or Non-Resident Nagas (NRN) It is also worthy to mention the efforts of Overseas Naga Association (ONA) that was formed with the vision to encourage youth to compete in the international arena with their skills and gifts. Like the Indian Diaspora or Jewish Diaspora whose mounting influence in their country of origin have been remarkable, the Naga Diaspora/Non-Resident Nagas (NRN) could also do the same or if not, better for the Naga society. How can the young Naga Diaspora contribute to the Naga society meaningfully? If the inspiring works of the first generation Naga Diaspora could impact the lives of some people in their host country or in their native village in Nagaland, how much more can the youth change the larger Naga society? Dr. Sanyo Konyak from Nagaland who lives with his American wife Marsha Konyak and four sons in Tulsa, Oklahoma said, “My Naga culture of helping those in need imbibed from childhood has shaped my present involvement in philanthropic activities especially among the Burmese refugees, Meitei (Manipuri) diaspora, and Kuki diaspora at the International Mission Fellowship in Tulsa. Being a doctor, I am hard pressed with time, hospital calls at any time of the day and night. I wish to have plenty of time and resources to give back a large amount to society.” Similarly, Dr. Wungreiso Valui and his wife Margaret Valui, Pastors at Fort Wayne Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana work among the underprivileged children in their native Tangkhul Naga village in Ukhrul district, Manipur. They focus on education, spiritual growth and holistic development of children and made annual visits to their village with American volunteers and sponsors. Another Naga couple (names withheld for confidentiality) based in Chicago shared that their vision is to teach and train the villagers throughout Nagaland rather than work in the mainstream Church or big organizations. These three examples illustrate that young Naga Diaspora are keen to involve in improving the quality of people’s lives in their native places. There are innumerable strategies in which the Naga Diaspora could intervene effectively in healthcare, education, social entrepreneurship, climate change mitigation, and poverty alleviation. The very fact that Naga people occupy position as intellectuals (Professors) in colleges and universities, hospitals, and elsewhere in several parts across India, USA, Europe, Japan, Australia and the like is proof of it. While at the Methodist Church in Washington, DC, we were pleasantly surprised to hear the speaker of the service Prof./Rev. William B. McClain, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama in 1960s and taught at Harvard University (He is the President of the Committee that put together the Hymnal “Songs of Zion” that sold 2.5 million copies across the globe) shower praise on young choir boys, proclaiming them to be the future of their country.
Conclusion There is an urgent need to include youth in all walks of life. The powerful institutions such as family, kinship, church and the like have to overhaul the structure of the society and mindset so that we do justice to thousands of youth yearning for peace, progress and qualitative change in their everyday lives. Undoubtedly, the youth holds power to transform the society. For instance, when Aam Admi Party (AAP) came to power in Delhi, it was the youth who led the movement. I would like to emphasize that we need youth (including Naga Diaspora) who are positive thinking and hard working generation to bring about a desirable change in the Naga society by involving in all spheres of life. We would like our youth to acquire admirable qualities of ability with knowledge and skills, stability by upholding principles, ethics and values and mobility to adapt to any situation and location in this globalized world. The author, Dr. Ajailiu Niumai is an Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP), Joint faculty, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. She was also the CARTHA Fellow (2006-07), USA and UGC Raman Fellow & Visiting Scholar (2013-14) in the Department of Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. She can be contacted at
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[email protected] ‘Subject Matters’ is a weekly column featuring Naga academicians and Naga Scholars on issues concerning the Naga Society. This Column seeks to stimulate minds and encourage fresh perspectives and thinking on issues that are crucial for the progress of the Naga Society. Share this post..
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