In every society, age commands respect. In Naga society, as in many indigenous cultures, reverence for elders is a cherished value that binds communities together. It reflects gratitude for sacrifice, recognition of experience, and continuity of tradition. This cultural strength must be preserved. Yet, respect for age should not mean unquestioned acceptance of every word spoken by those who are older. Even fools and hypocrites grow old.
Age does not automatically equate to wisdom, maturity, or moral authority. Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is a choice shaped by reflection, courage, and integrity. While many elders possess deep insight earned through hardship and experience, others simply carry the weight of years without the discipline of self examination. Advice from elders, therefore, must be received with humility but evaluated with discernment.
The world today is changing at a pace unprecedented in human history. Technology, governance, education, and social values are evolving rapidly. Some elders may struggle to comprehend these shifts. Respect demands patience, but responsibility demands critical thinking. To question respectfully is not rebellion. It is maturity.
At the same time, it would be dishonest to ignore the moral crisis confronting our society. Corruption, hypocrisy, and silence in the face of wrongdoing have hollowed out institutions. Many among the older generation have failed our society, and they must accept their share of responsibility. When leaders compromise integrity for short term gain, they shape a culture that normalizes corruption. When elders fail to speak against wrongdoing, they teach by example.
A society does not decline overnight. It erodes gradually when those entrusted with authority choose comfort over courage. The present condition did not emerge in a vacuum. It is the cumulative result of tolerated misconduct, rationalized dishonesty, and the quiet acceptance of practices that should have been challenged long ago. It’s called hypocrisy. By action or by silence, standards were lowered. By accepting convenience over principle, a generation set precedents that continue to influence the young.
This is not an indictment of all elders, nor a dismissal of their sacrifices. Many have served with honour. But accountability cannot be selective. If we expect the youth to build a better tomorrow, they must inherit not only land and legacy but also truth. They must understand how compromise corrodes character and how silence strengthens injustice.
The responsibility now shifts to those who are still forming their convictions. Young people must resist being conditioned into believing that corruption and hypocrisy are normal or inevitable. They must cultivate independent judgment, moral clarity, and the courage to dissent when necessary. Renewal will not come from age alone, but from integrity. And integrity must be chosen, deliberately and consistently, by the generation that refuses to repeat the failures of the past.
The future cannot be built on blind obedience. It must be built on ethical conviction. The youth, particularly students who still possess intellectual independence, and are not corrupted yet, must rise above conditioning and convenience. Respect age, yes. But seek wisdom. And where wisdom is absent, have the courage to cultivate it anew.
