Puloka P Chophy
As the first light of 2026 breaks over the mist-clad hills of Nagaland, it offers a profound moment for introspection and shared aspiration. The year 2025, now receding into memory, was a defining chapter in our shared story—a complex tapestry woven with threads of resilient community action, youthful ambition, cultural reclamation, and the steadfast navigation of challenges that tested and ultimately strengthened our collective spirit.
The Tapestry of 2025—Resilience in Action
The past year was a powerful testament to the Naga spirit of Themhedi—community cooperation—which moved from principle to purposeful action. This was vividly displayed in the spontaneous mobilization following the devastating monsoon landslides in Peren district, where communities transcended boundaries to provide relief, embodying our timeless value of standing together.
This same cooperative ethos was channeled into structured platforms for growth. The hosting of the Northeast National Service Scheme (NSS) Festival in Kohima united hundreds of youth volunteers from across the region, transforming the theme of “Viksit Bharat” into tangible community service and cross-cultural dialogue. It was celebrated as a milestone of unity and youth leadership.
In arenas of passion and talent, 2025 offered new stages for excellence. The launch of the Nagaland Super League provided a professional platform for local football talent, culminating in a celebrated inaugural champion and uniting communities in shared pride. Simultaneously, the Hornbill Esports Festival at the Indira Gandhi Stadium marked a bold stride into the future, where digital arenas buzzed with the same competitive spirit as traditional fields—proving that Naga youth are ready to excel in both ancestral and modern pursuits.
Culturally, the year was marked by profound acts of looking backward to move forward. The grassroots “Roots Revival” Festival in Mon saw elders and youth weaving a living bridge of heritage. On a global stage, a dedicated Naga delegation’s journey to the University of Oxford advanced critical efforts to repatriate ancestral remains—a solemn mission to heal historical wounds and reclaim our spiritual legacy.
Yet, 2025 also demanded sober resilience. A prolonged nationwide internet shutdown exposed our digital vulnerabilities, while a severe dry spell threatened harvests, offering stark lessons in climate preparedness. In the civic sphere, society grappled with complex dialogues, as seen in public agitations over the state’s job reservation policy, reflecting deep-seated concerns over equity and opportunity.
Through these trials, the enduring response was one of pragmatic adaptation. Community water-sharing pacts, offline learning hubs, and engaged public discourse showcased a growing maturity in facing adversity head-on.
Pillars for a Progressive 2026—Building on a Foundation of Unity
From the experiences of the past year, a clear and hopeful vision for 2026 emerges, built upon indispensable pillars.
Foremost is the pursuit of deepening and enduring peace—the essential bedrock for all progress. Political consolidation within the state and reconciliation dialogues that produced statements such as the “Ungma Statement,” calling for a shared future, are important steps on this long journey. True peace fosters unity, allowing every community’s voice to enrich our collective Naga narrative and creating a stable foundation for inclusive development.
Central to this development are expanded and dynamic opportunities for our youth. Their energy, showcased in the NSS festival and digital arenas, is Nagaland’s greatest resource. The year 2026 must be one where this potential is met with a robust ecosystem of innovation—where skill development aligns with the global economy and entrepreneurial dreams are nurtured. By investing in technology, sustainable agriculture, and the creative arts, we can ensure that our youth build their futures here at home.
Parallel to this, the preservation of our living culture remains a sacred duty. In a homogenizing world, our traditions are our compass. The task ahead is to move beyond preservation to active practice—ensuring that indigenous knowledge informs contemporary life, our languages thrive in new domains, and ancient art forms find fresh expression, keeping our identity dynamic and relevant.
All aspirations for growth must be grounded in development with profound responsibility. This means steadfast stewardship of our pristine environment and ensuring that economic advancement is both equitable and transparent. It also means safeguarding the social harmony that defines us—a concern reflected in calls from across society to protect communal freedoms and respect for all faiths.
Our Collective Destiny
The narrative of 2026 is unwritten, and its authors are the citizens of Nagaland. This is a call to embrace shared civic responsibility—a responsibility reflected in the integrity of our public discourse, our support for local enterprise, and our informed participation in the democratic process, much like the engaged citizens who voiced their concerns constructively throughout 2025.
The Nagaland we aspire to is built not by proclamation, but by collective effort. Each act of service by an NSS volunteer, each display of sportsmanship on the field, each effort to reclaim our heritage, and each venture in innovation lays another stone in its foundation.
Let us, therefore, step into 2026 not as passive observers, but as active architects of a common destiny. Guided by the wisdom of our past and motivated by the boundless potential of our youth, let us work in unison to make this coming year a landmark of meaningful achievement, shared prosperity, and enduring peace.
Here’s to a 2026 defined by unity in purpose, strength in diversity, and progress with a soul. May the coming year bring blessings, wisdom, and abundance to every home and every heart in our beloved Nagaland.
