New Delhi: Know a state capital in India which does not have a single cinema threatre? Kohima, the capital of Nagland does not have a single theatre and has few libraries.
Widespread ignorance and indifference has almost shut out the strategically crucial border regions of India from the mainstream with telling and often tragic consequences, says a new book Scrolls of Strife, The endless history of the Nagas’.
The result is Nagaland is educationally a backward state and career prospects are stunted.
Many Naga students are compelled to leave in order to build their careers. “And it might just be the only state capital in India without a cinema theatre”, the book says.
Kohima at one time indeed had one theatre which was bombed out, it says. Globalisation, however, seems to be doing what decades of inept political handling could not.
Shoals of Naga youth are floating away in search of greener pastures, seeking jobs and education across India.
Many Nagas now are world citizens, travelling quite freely and winning for themselves meaningful participation in diffeent spheres of life despite occasional prejudice and abuse.
The National media occasionally takes note of the people from the Northeast doing well on a bigger platform.
People achieving their dreams in high-profile segments such as the entertainment industry and the sports areas may serve a purpose by attracting the attention of the world to the Northeast, the authors say.
The situation in Nagaland seems to require such life-giving infusions from the realms of art and culture and sports, the book says adding that in their originality and creativity, artists light up paths of renewal and progress.
Written by Homen Borgohain and Pradipta Borgohains, the book deals with the relationship between the people of the Northeast and ‘other’ Indians, foucssing on the perspectives and experiences of the Nagas.
Homen Borgohain is a Sahitya Akademi award winning writer while Pradipto Borgohain holds a PhD in English from University of Illionois and is presently a professor in Guwahati University.
The ‘outsider’ saga, or the narrative of the relationship between Nagas and others, have multiple dimensions and a closure of the same is not visible in the near future, the book says.
The Nagas are an extrordinary people with a vibrant culture and a very deep attachment to their origin and ways of life.
Their unique racial profile does not just make their study fascinating and challenging; it enables one to zero in on most of the critical factors that have shaped India’s responses to the Northeast, the authors say.
“Because of the absence of mediators of genuine intent and ability (save for the members of the Peace Mission) and because of a lack of vision, involvement and political will among Indian leaders, the gates for meddling parties like successive regimes in China and Pakistan were thrown open. As a consequence, Indian in general and the people of Nagaland in particularly have suffered,” the book says.(PTI)