The intellectual life we don’t value
~ Arenjungla Kichu We like to think that we are an educated society. We point to our degrees, our professionals, our examination results and the number of young people going…
There are still four months
As we grow older, there is a strange feeling that time begins to move faster. The years that once seemed long now appear to pass almost unnoticed. It feels as…
A bridge to Jorhat
Jorhat is in Assam, but for Mokokchung, the city has long been much more than a place across the state boundary. Located about 100 kilometres from the Mokokchung district headquarters,…
Beyond the buzzwords
Nagaland’s announcement of a more than Rs 10-crore partnership with Google for school education is certainly worth attention. Technology, artificial intelligence and digital skills can open new possibilities for young…
The contagion of corruption
Corruption is often spoken of as an individual wrongdoing. A public official takes a bribe, a contractor manipulates a tender, or a citizen pays money to get something done. But…
Nagaland needs more legal action in the public interest
In Nagaland, when an issue of public concern arises, the familiar response is often immediate and predictable: a press statement is issued, a condemnation follows, a deadline is announced and,…
What do we really mean by development?
When we speak of development, we often think in terms of what we can see: roads, bridges, buildings, stadiums, drains and other infrastructure. The larger the project, the bigger the…
Put Village Councils at the Heart of Conservation
Nagaland has an advantage that many places seeking to strengthen conservation do not: a deeply rooted system of traditional village governance. Every village has a village council, and traditional institutions…
Where will our children play?
Where will our children play? It is a simple question, but increasingly difficult to answer in most towns of Nagaland. Our neighbourhoods have grown without much thought for public space.…
Curiosity is the beginning of discovery
A scientific degree is supposed to do more than qualify a person for a job. It should cultivate curiosity: the habit of looking closely, asking difficult questions and venturing beyond…