Kohima, March 22 (MExN): Japfü Christian College organized a seminar entitled, “Conflict to Peace Trap: The Naga Story” on March 21 and 22, sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research – North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC). The academia dialogued on the elusive peace with resource persons drawn from varied fields, informed a press release. The paper presenters along with their paper titles were:
Dr. C.J. Thomas, Deputy Director, ICSSR-NERC, Shillong: “Conflict to Peace Trap: The Naga Story”; Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Principal, OTS, Dimapur: “The FNR Story”; Niketu Iralu, Social Pacifist, Kohima: “Phizo and revisiting Angami Public Organisation’s stand on Naga Movement”; Prof. John Sema, HOD, Department of Political Science, Nagaland University: “Present Naga Political Issue”; Dr. Melville Pereira, Director, NESRC, Guwahati: “Conflict in the wake of ASFPA in Naga society”; Tia Longchar & Joel Nillo, ACAUT Nagaland, Dimapur: “ACAUT Story as an off-shoot of Peace Trap”; Zapuvisie Lhousa, Village Elder, Mezoma Village: “The NNC Story: Frustrations and Aspirations”; Dr. Kedilezo Kikhi, HOD, Department of Sociology, Tezpur Central University, Tezpur: “The Influx Trap”; Dr. Abraham Lotha, Principal, St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama: “Self-Auditing Naga Ceasefires since 1997 and the Way Forward”; Dr. Visakhonü Hibo, Principal, Japfü Christian College, Kigwema: “Conflicting Narrations, Factionalism and Tribalism to Peace Trap”; Colo Mero, Director, Life Sports Ministry, Kohima: “Romanticizing the Past Naga Movement and its Present Virtual Reality”; Dr. Nokhwenu Kharutso & Dr. Kekhrieseno Christina: “Conflict resolution: Strategies and solutions for Naga Society”; Husca A. Ayemi, Japfü Christian College, Kigwema: “The Plight of Sumis of Kiphire District in the wake of Peace Poverty”; Shamu Singh, Japfu Christian College, Kigwema: “Naga National Workers and State Election”; Purchila Jamir, Japfu Christian College: “Genesis of Naga Nationalism and Birth of Unrest”.
According to the note, there was a strong desire among all the panelists and the participants for an earnest need to have mass based unity for ushering in lasting and enduring peace, to forgo mistakes in the spirit of forgiveness, discard divisive politics, tribalism and to pursue ideal democracy where Human Rights enriched with dignified identity of a people and their will rules supreme.
Earlier at the inaugural session, a book entitled “Education and empowerment of Naga women” authored by Dr. Visakhonü Hibo, Principal of Japfu Christian College, was released by Dr. C.J. Thomas, Deputy Director, ICSSR-NERC, Shillong. The book is the outcome of Dr Hibo’s doctoral research in the Nagaland University which “explores on the lack of quality education in our State which disadvantage both men and women, but more so amongst the women folks, as mere literacy rate does not empower.”
