NU seminar on historical conflicts

One-day seminar on “Historical conflicts and peace processes in Nagaland” under the aegis of the Department of History & Archaeology, Nagaland University, Kohima campus, in association with North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC), Guwahati, was held on Saturday in the conference hall of NU Kohima.
Addressing the seminar NESRC director Dr. Walter Fernandes said the people of the Northeast were struggling for “nation” and said “from nation we get identity and from state we get citizenship. Northeast region comprises most of nomad tribes who come from outside India, transited and settled many hundred years ago.”
He regretted that in India, most writers write and re-write history to proclaim glory, which had subjugated and alienated the people, especially the indigenous people of North East region.
The director said there should be “re-interpretation of history” but not “re-writing” of history.
Giving an observation on the on-going ceasefires between the Government of India and different underground groups, Dr. Walter said these should also involve the point of the people and required reconciliation, while civil societies should be the middle ground. He however said the danger today was that both the militants and the government try to capture the middle ground.
He also said civil societies have a role to bring about reconciliation and unity amongst the people and also put pressure on the undergrounds to come together and fight as one for the “cause.”
Ms. Ayu Aier of NPMHR said a paradigm shift was required to look into the history and community of the northeast. She also said the “coinage” and “usage” on the various groups by dominant forces have become a grave threat to identity and the struggle.
Dr. Kenilo Kath, department of History & Archaeology said the seminar would provide a better understanding on the confusion about the Nagas’ struggle for self-determination, since the idea of self-determination was the root cause of the conflict among the groups and the two entities-India and Nagas.
Dr. S. V. Babu, Reader and head of department of History & Archaeology informed that since 2004, the
Nagaland University had introduced a “Naga history” paper in the Post Graduate (PG) level.