The 68th Biennial Literary and Cultural Day was held by the SASU (Southern Angami Students Union) on the 27th of January, 2018, at the Khuzama Local Ground. This event had the Cognizing Culture Identity theme and the Guest Speaker was Er Khose Sale, the Chief Engineer at the Department of Power in Kohima, Nagaland. He declared that the theme centers on the concept of identity which is a manifestation of several cultures and values of human beings and also makes up the progressive elements in all ancient beliefs, customs that are practice, social organizations and ways of life of diverse ethnic communities and groups. Cognizing entails on total knowledge and preservation of these practices and the very essence here is the power to choose or make a decision.
Widely expounding into the theme, the Guest Speaker talked of how there is a need for more recording and documentation of Nagaland’s history as per the latest Nagaland live news reports. Nagaland news reports also highlighted the emphasis placed on academic research by Er Khose Sale. The rich cultural past of Nagaland has to be documented urgently in order to preserve the same according to him. He also added that there is oral scattering of several elements of local culture which had to be recorded swiftly in order to pass them onto the next generations.
Sale also stated that traditions and culture have to evolve in order to sync with local customs, mindsets, attitudes and identity. He talked of how identity of Nagaland people in this case was linked to nature in several ways, including forests, mountains, flora and fauna, land, rivers, trees and so on. Losing these natural resources entails losing identity. As a result, protection of nature is the key towards preserving natural identities of several tribal cultures according to Sale. From the practices followed by men and Nagaland women to the Nagaland food images that have gained a huge following worldwide, there is a need to preserve and document every aspect of the State’s culture and identity.
Naga tradition and history contains nuggets of learning, wisdom and culture that speak of sustainability and ecology. The identity of Nagaland is thus closely tied to Nature itself, starting with cultural practices, habitats, clan systems and other institutional practices, story-telling, folklore and even gennas and taboos according to participants at the event. Sale also talked of how food gathering activities like hunting and fishing were also sustainable traditions for Nagaland, while noting that several contemporary practices have led to a disruption of the entire existential chain. Focusing on furthering traditions and cultures will keep values intact and also boost the economy according to him.
The President of SASU, Ketholeto Anthony Zashiimo, also addressed the gathering and talked of how the theme which was meant to explore and further the rich tradition and cultures of the State. There are several modernizing forces which are disrupting the community and making the next generations unmindful of their cultural pasts and traditions. This event strived to revive the same through discussions and several activities. More than 700 students participated in the event from Southern Angami’s 13 villages along with elders and other guests from Angami regions.
10 villages took part in the cultural competition cum exhibition. The President of the Naga Student Federation or NSF, Kesosul Christopher Ltu, addressed the gathering at the event, highlighting the rising levels of unemployment amongst today’s youth. There was a quiz contest on the Angami Naga history and traditions along with folk dance, original story writing, Tati, painting and Mepfii Kero (war cry) competitions. The current Mr. and Miss SASU 2018 crowns went to Kezoma Village’s Siivito Mekro and Kigwema Village’s Vikhotsono Khora respectively
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