Modern College, Piphema, hosted its 4th edition of the one-day State-Level Students’ Seminar, organized by the Department of History under the theme “Nagas till the 21st Century: An Outlook into the Past and Contemporary Times.”
The seminar was sponsored and supported by the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Nagaland. Assistant professor at Capital College of Higher Education and chief instructor at CUE Academy, Dr. Rukulu Puro, delivered the keynote address.
In her address, Dr. Puro emphasized the importance of revisiting Naga heritage in the modern context. She highlighted that the Nagas were once fearless warriors, skilled artisans, and guardians of nature.
“Villages functioned as independent mini-kingdoms where loyalty to the community was paramount. Nagas actively participated in festivals, worked diligently, and celebrated their way of life with elaborate feasts”, she explained.
However, she noted that 82% of Nagas have strayed from their core values due to material pursuits. To preserve culture, she stressed the need to uphold language, festivals, and storytelling.
“Culture survives when we practice it, not just remember it,” she stated, warning that losing culture equates to losing identity. Dr. Puro encouraged the younger generation to embrace their heritage by learning their native language, sharing folktales, supporting artists, and balancing tradition with modernity.
The seminar featured three technical sessions where student researchers presented papers on topics such as traditional Naga rituals, oral histories, and the role of women in Naga politics.
Participants from various colleges across Nagaland attended, including: Modern College Piphema, Tetso College Sovima, Kros College Kohima, Baptist College Kohima, Capital College of Higher Education Kohima, Mt. Olive College Kohima, Norman Putsure College Chümoukedima and Baptist College Sechu Campus.
A total of 27 students presented research papers. The Best Presenter awards were conferred upon Kihitoli A Kiho from Baptist College, Kohima, and Visino from Modern College, Piphema.
The seminar provided an engaging platform for students and scholars to delve into Naga history, culture, and contemporary issues, fostering meaningful discussions and encouraging research.
In a separate event, a three-day badminton coaching camp concluded successfully with T. Imtisungit Ao as the coach from the Directorate of Youth Resource & Sports (DYRS), Government of Nagaland. A total of 30 trainees benefited from the intensive coaching sessions.
Earlier, the inaugural session commenced held at the college’s conference hall, was chaired by Niepuvino, a B.A. 4th Semester student. The session began with a welcome address by Dr. Vitsou Yano, principal of Modern College, followed by an introduction to the seminar by Mongsenchila, the seminar convener.