Having graduated from an IIM (Indian Institute of Management) just last month, I find myself one of the very few Nagas who have crossed this platform of education. Many still remain unaware of what the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam is, or even an IIM for that matter. This is startling information considering the fact that Business Management today stands as one of the most lucrative prospects, especially at a time when India’s economy is booming and undergoing rapid ‘corporatization.’ However it is important to add here that many of the business schools in India are not recognized under any State Acts and hence the selection of a B-school should be carefully done. Another detail to be noted is that there have been many more students from other north-eastern states like Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya etc. studying in the ‘elite six’ IIM across India.
What actually prompted me to write this article, or should I say a ‘statement of my opinion’, is through years of observation – not only of people, but newspaper articles and content, general talks and discussions, among a host of other sources. I believe ‘quality education and knowledge’ is not given enough stress or emphasis, and there exists ‘glass ceilings’ or dangerous assumptions and under-estimations of how much Nagas can achieve. To take this further, I believe that modern and rapidly changing world we live in today is absolutely knowledge-based, where ‘knowledge’ itself has become the currency of the world. This is in accordance to what many management gurus like Peter Drucker have also advocated.
Knowledge today is characterized by fluidity, its ability to easily cross boundaries, and most importantly – its scarcity. Scarcity of any commodity, like currency, would obviously mean it is precious and highly valued. In the present day, the ‘real’ issue has therefore evolved from the sole purpose of raising money, to recruiting people who own this capital or knowledge. Following this logic, where knowledge has become the new capital, ‘knowledge workers’ collectively have become the new ‘capitalists’ who own the means of production. However, it is important to mention here that ‘knowledge workers’ must also be able to leverage their knowledge through organizations, corporations, entrepreneurial ventures etc. My plea, or appeal, is to all the people of Nagaland – we must rise to the occasion and prove our worth! We must also view this situation in a holistic fashion and understand the role each one must play.
It is imperative that the leaders, politicians and people of Nagaland realize the significance of building ‘strong’ educational capabilities and facilities – especially in light of the current progress in India and the world. Even today, many of the corporate stalwarts have little knowledge about the North East, let alone Nagaland, and grossly underestimate the potential of a Naga as a ‘knowledge worker’. Under such a scenario, I hope and pray that we have more Naga ‘ambassadors’ in the corporate field of India that proudly bear the torch of this land.
Deki Dorji, IIM (2004-2006), 2½ Mile, Dimapur
