Department of Sociology, Sazolie College, Jotsoma, organised a talk on the topic, “Relevance of Naga (Homeland) Politics and Identity in the Present Neoliberal Context: A Critical Sociological Understanding” on July 21 with professor Kedilezo Kikhi from department of Sociology and chair of Ambedkar Studies Centre, Tezpur University, Assam, as the speaker.
A press note by the college stated that professor Kikhi critically analysed the issue of Naga identity in the context of Neoliberalism, wherein the state was needed by the elites to accumulate and protect their wealth, which ultimately results in the rich getting richer and the poor becoming poorer.
Professor Kikhi expressed concern as to what would happen when “our parasitic government” and “parasitic society” stopped receiving the so-called “economic packages” or “pacifying packages” from the central government.
He stated that the movement for Naga identity started with a good intention, but it has become bait today thereby intensifying the parasitic system and giving growth to the nexus among the elites, which included the politicians, bureaucrats and groups claiming to fight for the Nagas.
Therefore, professor Kikhi stressed on the need for the Nagas to realise the importance of self-reliance and proposed various areas which could be developed and improved upon to achieve the goal of self-sustenance like indigenous handicrafts, pottery, forest resources, agro/forest-based industries etc.
The programme was chaired by Sazolie College, Jotsoma HoD sociology, Thepfusalie Theunuo and vote of thanks was delivered by assistant professor, Nukhrülü.