Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): The research scholars’ colloquium was organised by the Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) on May 18 at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. A press release received on Friday from the association updated.
President of NSA Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, said since the formation of the association, the research scholars colloquium was in NSA’s agendas and was delighted for finally implementing it.
NSA’s main objective is to create academic platform for nurturing and grooming the young scholars for building their confidence and leading them as critical thinkers in society, he informed.
“NSA initiatives like this will enable the young scholars get positive inputs and constructive criticisms before submitting any research work either in a form of PhD thesis or research articles in journals and books, he said.”
The chairperson of the session, Dr. Susmita Dasgupta, who is an economist, writer, social activists and a visiting faculty said that looking at the past available literatures, not much have been done on Nagas and whole of Northeast. She suggested that authentic proper documentation in the form of encyclopaedia is the need of the hour.
Pfokrelo Kapesa, a doctoral candidate from JNU presented her paper titled “India’s Summit Diplomacy vis-à-vis Pakistan, 1998-2004.” The paper examines how under the leadership of AB Vajpayee the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government from 1998-2004 pursued Summit Diplomacy with Pakistan.
Her paper raises significant questions as to “how summit diplomacy shaped India-Pakistan relation? Why did summit diplomacy failed to resolved conflict between India and Pakistan? Did personalities influence the process and outcome?” She argued that the summit diplomacy failed as “they were not concerned for eliminating the conflict but was more concerned with conflict management”. She further argued that engaging in this Summit was to ‘enhanced India’s image globally.’ She pointed out that during the course of her research she found that the three variables i.e., agenda, personality and regime are complementary and affect the process and outcome of summit diplomacy.
Khyochano Ovung, a doctoral candidate from Ambedkar University presented her “Co-relating gender and education in Nagaland: An Exploratory Study,” also explored the gender issue from 1870 to 1950’s. Her paper focused on the notion of ‘gender’ through education from a feminist perspective. She also examines the different shifts faced by the Nagas in their education system due to ‘encounter with the colonials, to the American Missionaries, Naga sovereignty and followed by the post-colonial nation-building and How these encounters have led to ending of ‘Morung System’ and ‘Orality’ was replaced by text.’
She argued that “What is known about the Nagas today was constructed by British colonial officials and anthropologists.” She also raises important point on language, considering it as the vehicle of a community it is pertinent to address its role in education and one’s community.
Solomon Zingkhai, a doctoral candidate from JNU in his paper titled “Authenticity and the social space,” talks about transition from modern to post-modern society. It argues how this is causing interest concerning questions of self-identity and in relation to the concept of authenticity. It also questions what is it to be oneself or truly representing oneself is gaining importance not just in philosophical discourses but in contemporary social and political debates.
Solomon based his paper on Rousseau and Charles Taylor, and ‘attempt to reconcile the two seemingly opposed ideals, authenticity conceptualize in terms of commitment to self-values and authenticity as involving an orientation towards what is beyond oneself.’
