Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) History Department organised a seminar on ‘sources for studying Naga history’ in the conference Hall on January 31.
Dimapur, February 2 (MExN): Patkai Christian College (Autonomous) History Department organised a seminar on ‘sources for studying Naga history’ in the conference Hall on January 31.
A press release from the college stated that the speaker, Thejalhouko Casavi, Research Scholar at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, spoke on the importance of colonial archive stating that ‘anyone writing Naga history is dependent on colonial sources even for pre-colonial era.’ He stated that ‘one needs to be critical while reading sources’ and ‘be aware of the pre-conceived ideas in the sources.’ He further highlighted the emerging scholarship in understanding the archive where ‘scholars are studying the archive not as a source but as a subject.’
While speaking on the act of history writing, Casavi contended that ‘academic history writing is not necessarily about claim making but the recovery of the voices of the subaltern and the many voices from within the colonial archive.’ He alerted the students in studying history on the fallacy of imposing modern categories on to the past and said that ‘when we take Naga Identity as a given we miss out on the richness of the archive.’
Casavi further discussed on missionary writings as a very important source in understanding the drastic change in worldview among the Nagas.
The seminar was attended by Students and faculties of PCC and chaired by Bauna Panmei, Assistant Professor, History Department, PCC and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Opangtula Imsong, HOD, History Department, PCC.
