November editorial calls for youth engagement in peace process, community affairs and preservation of Naga identity
The NSCN-IM, in the November edition of its publication Nagalim Voice, has called on Naga youth to take greater responsibility in carrying forward the Naga political movement, questioning who will sustain the struggle as the older generation gradually steps aside.
The editorial, titled around the need for a new generation to carry forward the Naga struggle, argues that youth participation in civic and political affairs has declined. It points to what it describes as diminishing engagement in student organisations, public discussions on Naga history and community affairs.
While acknowledging that young people have the right to pursue modern interests and enjoy their lives, the editorial argues that this should not come at the cost of their connection with their history, culture and political identity.
It also raises concerns over graduate unemployment, substance abuse, the declining use of indigenous languages and migration, describing these as challenges affecting the future of Naga society.
However, the editorial does not place the responsibility entirely on the younger generation. It also holds older leaders and factions accountable for leadership failures, political divisions and missed opportunities, while arguing that these shortcomings should not become an excuse for youth disengagement.
Calling for practical involvement rather than slogans, the editorial urges young people to study Naga history, participate in village council meetings, preserve their mother tongues and explore ways to build economic opportunities within their communities.
It also calls on the younger generation to engage with the Naga peace process, arguing that any eventual settlement will shape their future and that they should not treat the negotiations as a distant political matter.
The editorial traces the Naga political movement to the declaration of independence on August 14, 1947, and the 1951 plebiscite, which it claims recorded 99.9 per cent support for sovereignty. It identifies the subsequent Sixteen-Point Agreement, Shillong Accord, 1997 ceasefire and 2015 Framework Agreement as significant developments in the movement’s history.
Concluding with an appeal for personal responsibility, the editorial argues that the future of the Naga people will depend not only on the decisions of political leaders but also on what the younger generation chooses to do in the coming years.
