Nagamese as official language scares us unless we are sure of the following points and since it is the present and future generations that will shoulder this responsibility, we should be thoroughly explained and assured of these points.
1. Will Nagamese remain just a spoken Language or will it have its own script?
2. If it will not have its own script than, Will Nagamese run as spoken language with English as its script?
3. If Nagamese will have its own script than which generation will get the opportunity to learn this first?
4. Will there be a separate school for all the working people both young and old to learn this special script? If not, Most of us will remain Nagamese illiterate. Will the old people and young school children learn together at Beginners Nagamese Script class?
5. Will it be easy to learn the script? How will the working class, students and teachers adapt to this and how long will we take to stabilize this whole learning period to have a fruitful result?
6. How long will the entire period of making Nagas Nagamese literate take and how will the chaos and confusion in schools, colleges and work places be dealt with?
7. How and who all will benefit with Nagamese as official language?
8. Will it not be an additional burden to learn English and Hindi along with Nagamese now if it is going to have its own script?
9. If it will not have its own script than will it not be funny and meaningless to speak Nagamese officially while use the English alphabets for writing?
10. Will it not be better if we focus more on enhancing our English or Hindi language skill instead of killing it with Nagamese as official language because Nagamese will serve only here while we need those two languages everywhere?
11. Will it not be wiser to make the mother tongue and culture of each tribe a Compulsory school subject instead of making Nagamese an official language?
12. English with the most acceptable scripts could not be learned properly by majority of the Nagas, even after so many years of establishing English medium schools at every part of Nagaland. Will it not be a herculean task learning Nagamese scripts?
At the moment for those not at par with the fast changing trend may find it comfortable, making Nagamese an official language, if it is to be limited to spoken language only but its a mockery, if English will still be used as a script. Nevertheless, if a script is also to be used kindly analyze the pros and cons. We younger generation too love and respect our culture and identity and wish to preserve it with the Elders Blessing, so kindly hand us down a beautiful and useful one that will be a blessing for all of us together.
Renponi Kithan 5th Mile, Dimapur
