Ao elders discuss course of community’s future

[caption id="attachment_211354" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Attendees engage in group discussions at Life Spring Corner, at Khermahal in Dimapur on Sat. Oct. 6.[/caption] Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Oct. 8: To bring change and new possibilities through social contact, sharing of cultural ethos, and public engagement, a programme was conducted for a section of the Ao community, at Life Spring Corner, Khermahal in Dimapur on Saturday. The event was conducted with the theme ‘imagining a collective future.’ The programme was led by the convenor of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, along with a team of scholars from the Ao community with Dr. Panger Kichu, and Dr. Lanusangla Tsudir as convenors. It was sponsored by the Dimapur District Ao Pensioners’ Telongjem. During his address, Rev. Dr. Aier expressed a wish to provoke the younger generation and the society through the help of senior citizens and scholars based on their experience and knowledge. “Imagining a collective future does not have to do with subjective concept of inner-self but should transcend beyond the system of ideology,” he said. Lamenting that the Ao people were ‘trying to move ahead by looking backwards,’ Aier urged them to be rid of such a mentality. “We must debunk the schizophrenic vision of the past. We cannot make anything good out of it,” he added. Pointing out that there was a lack of sustenance to make any resolution effective, he said one should discover the secret of sustaining efforts. Further, Aier expressed desire to realise the purpose of the programme in tangible ways. He said that the community had a lot of ‘collective unconsciousness,’ which he said should be removed. He requested the gathering to continue using their knowledge for the benefit of the younger generation. As part of the day’s event, the gathering also engaged in personality building activities. They were divided into nine groups, each comprising of eight-13 persons, including two facilitators from the organising committee each. Each group was made to discuss and report about the realities of current Ao community followed by its strength, weakness, and opportunities and threats. The focus of the discussion was to unravel the problems faced by the Ao community and to counter the problem through contribution of ideas from the community’s elder generation. According to the organisers, imagining a collective future rests on two main foundations. The mission statement of the organisers stated in a pamphlet: ‘Relational community: When a deep connection with one another is discovered, a sense of meaning, interconnection and interdependence emerges. New relevant and transformational paradigms are needed to move beyond the status quo, the limits of nation (tribe), and conformity of “group unconsciousness.”’ A “citizenry centre” of transformation: ‘Lived experiences and shared realities reflect inner and outer transformation. Within, this shared existence and through transformed knowledge and imagination we are able to fulfil our potential and create a public synergy to remake the world.’ Yet, the pamphlet stated further, ‘The rites of apathy and hopelessness have domesticated us and moulded our present worldview which continues to shape contemporary Naga life. No Ao can afford to be a bystander as we are called to be active participants in the shaping of collective future.’ ‘Transformation dwells in opportunity, creativity, and imagination. Now is our opportunity to work robustly to ensure that the potency and vibrancy of the Naga ethos remain alive.’