Our Correspondent
Jotsoma | March 14
Nagaland Governor, Nikhil Kumar said Nagaland has been by and large a peaceful state for the past few years though there was a history of violence saying that no society can develop or march towards progress without a conducive environment as prosperity depends on peace. He expressed hoped that the State would soon make its way towards progress, development and prosperity.
The governor was addressing at the inaugural session of the two-day seminar on "Society, Culture and Development: Emerging issues in Nagaland" at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma organized by the Asiatic Society, Kolkota in collaboration with the Anthropology Department, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma.
The Governor drew a line on various aspects that needed to be looked into like connectivity, infrastructure, development of rural areas, and exploitation of natural resources, agriculture, industrialization, which are imperative for the State to develop further. He also urged upon the people, specially the youth, to aim high and to be constant and also called upon all concerned for a change of mindset to usher in progressive development.
Kumar also congratulated the Asiatic Society which has completed 228 years since its inception in 1784 saying that it has come a long way to occupy a premier place not only in the field of academia but almost in our daily existence. He said that the Society has managed to steer focus away from Europe and lay emphasis on Asian countries. He also acknowledged the collaborative effort in organizing the seminar and hoped that key issues would be addressed to in the next two days.
Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS in his keynote address said that culture, traditions and the existing social order create and present conditions that foster, as well as hinder the development of the society. He also said that engagement with development have far reaching impacts on the cultural traditions of the society and development interventions almost always have a social and cultural ramification which may either be negative or positive.
While development is important, Alemtemshi said “development models based on the culture of the people alone cannot solve all the issues that confront us”. Jamir said Nagas are faced with the dilemma of how the society with our strong tribal background will survive in the 21st century that is supposed to have gone beyond post industrial society and is now viewed as "Information" and "Knowledge Society". “As globalization has affected all of us”, he said “we should analyze, understand and manage globalization to harness its benefits and keep negative consequences at bay with special reference to a tribal society like the Nagas”.
Coordinator of the programme, Asiatic Society Dr. Satyabrata Chakrabarti delivered the introduction of the seminar while General Secretary, the Asiatic Society, Prof. Mihir Kumar Chakrabarti, said the Chairperson's address. Welcome address was delivered by Principal, Kohima Science College, Dr. Vituo Belho.
