Kohima: The Deputy Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Levi Rengma has strongly stressed returning to the roots of one’s traditional values for mutual growth and development of society and said tradition provides an important connection to the past from which core human values bring meaning to one’s life and understanding tradition can also provide insights into present-day lives.
Speaking during a traditional sanctification event of the Mao Naga community ‘Ashu Kopfo’ organized by the Mao Students’ Union of Dimapur in the IMC Hall yesterday Mr. Rengma said that the tradition is an emotional fabric that binds one to his forefathers and makes him distinct from the others, Rengma however said ‘many traditions’ are personal and belong within an individual family. Similarly, he said, Nagas also have different cultures and traditions in which each individual is defined by tribes and dress codes. While other traditions may be more to do with religion or culture, some are irreligious but provides a reference for people to connect a value to each other. He also referred to education of the citizenry.
According to the deputy speaker, ‘we should be able to differentiate between the good and the bad.’ He lamented that young Nagas are ‘forgetting the value of traditions handed down to them by their forefathers since time immemorial like family tradition, respect for elders, honesty, diligence and sincerity.’ To that he has attributed to the failure of parents in inculcating traditional values to their children. ‘If one look around in our society today, the scenario is not encouraging as there are suspicions, disunity and selfishness all around us. So what future can we give to our generation? He queried. ‘If we want to our future generation to have a bright future, we have to go back and learn the value of family traditions and good old value traditions.’ He has made a clarion call to teach children family values and tradition. (UNI)