A passport merely?

Much as Nagas like to hold forth on excellence but seeing the way we carry on with our mediocre lives and we are satisfied with our mediocrity, excellence is not our priority. Yes, today, much efforts and endeavours are expanded towards 'education' and parents would beg, borrow and steal to ensure that their children are 'educated', but the objectives of this 'education' is anything but education. Somehow we seem to have imbibed rather skewed perceptions and perspectives of education, which for us appear to mean well-paying employment enabling access to the comforts and conveniences of 'modern' life thereby creating avenues to social mobility. So for us education basically means a passport to a reasonably good life. Because this is the value-system we have instilled in our children, our children do not feel the need to excel in academic and cerebral exercises and pursuits hence mediocrity has become our middle name. A normal daily schedule of our children is tuitions, school and tuitions --- for the well-to-do fun and games on the computer. Our children have no time to play, to socialize with their friends and no time to themselves, and for themselves, to think and to work out things for themselves. Like food, education too is prepared for them and served to them. We don't have libraries and museums, which our children can easily access nor do we have playgrounds for children to expand their excess energies and develop their bodies and minds. Our children are growing in the atmosphere and environment of thought control and are denied the space for them to develop independent thinking. Those who defy the laid down norms, so to speak are considered rebels and problem children. Parents are happy as long as children get good grades, get into college and then get employment and are least concerned about the mental, intellectual and psychological growth and development of their children. Now, are these manifestations of the nature of our culture or are they simply a manifestation of what we understood to be our acquired religion? Perhaps, it is our erroneous understanding of development? Could this also be a consequence of the winds of change brought about by an alien form of economic system and the haste we are made to feel to integrate into liberalized and globalized systems and structures? Or are we, by nature, content with mediocrity and the now and here? Yes, today there are an increasing number of researches on Naga culture, traditions, history, politics and generally matters Naga but beyond acquiring degrees and employment, we have failed to translate these research into concrete knowledge to change the quality of the Naga life. Surely, academic exercises are not meant to be confined to the hallowed portals of academia alone? Surely, the knowledge we have gleaned through these researches must be utilized to benefit the ordinary citizen? If ideas and knowledge are kept confined, of what use are they and how would we integrate into the knowledge era and the knowledge economy? Clearly, one the main priorities the learned amongst us must initiate is to change the perceptions and perspectives of our people on the character and content of education. True, our political culture is intolerant of anything that does not subscribe to its dominant ideology and narrow interests but if the learned amongst us reach out to the ordinary citizen and exchange and share views and opinions thereby create a channel of communication our political culture wouldn't be as monolithic as it is now. Pluralism of thoughts also prevents dominant political cultures from becoming all-pervasive and oppressive thereby creating a healthy atmosphere and environment of democracy and this is imperative for excellence, in any field. The learned amongst us must get out of the confines of academia and reach out to the man in the street because when due to varied and various factors and forces ennui and anomie overwhelms the people, as is happening in our society and state, mediocrity is seen as a glass half-full --- sometimes as the panacea itself.

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HVC grateful

Dear Madam,

The Heunambe Village Council Poilwa express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner, Peren Khrienuo C Metha and all the departmental officers from Peren district accompanying the DC for visiting our village on January 30-31 to see the problems and hardships faced by the villagers.

It is one of the historic maiden visit in the entire Peren district The DC came along with more than 70 officers and interacted with the villagers to see all round development of the area. She was one of the first DC Peren to visit our village creating a golden history in Peren district who won the hearts of the people. She won the hearts of the people, she lives with the villagers, she was the lady with the lamp.

May the Lord continue to use her mightily with all the Heavenly Blessings to lead and guide the people of Peren district.

Heunambe, Chairman, HVC