The Ocean Beyond The Well
We often hear the adage about the frog in the well, but understanding its deeper meaning requires more than simply hearing about it. The ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi used the…
When VIPs Become the Main Event
Sports events in Nagaland have increasingly become occasions for political spectacle, with elaborate ceremonies, lengthy speeches and prominent roles for VIPs often taking precedence over the athletes themselves. The question…
Folklore and Scientific Inquiry
Stories of people losing their way in the jungle and repeatedly circling the same area are common in the oral traditions of many Naga villages. In the past, when the…
When herd mentality stands in the way of progress
Herd mentality is the tendency to follow the opinions and actions of a group without independently examining their merit. It is visible in politics, consumer behaviour, social media and public…
Feast of Merit Reimagined
The spirit of the traditional Naga Feast of Merit need not be confined to the customs of the past. As society changes, so too can the ways in which its…
Who is an illegal immigrant?
That illegal immigration is a potent threat to the Naga people is a foregone conclusion. Illegal immigration is a concern across the world, which is why countries have legal frameworks…
What does Mokokchung’s conservation record look like on the ground?
Mokokchung has been described as Nagaland’s top-performing district in Sustainable Development Goal performance and ranks fourth among 121 districts in the North Eastern States. The latest NER District SDG Index…
Public information should not depend on government publicity
In a democracy, information held by the government is not simply an administrative resource. Much of it is public information, generated through public institutions and public money. Yet access to…
When truth becomes partisan
Journalism is supposed to challenge what we think we know. But what happens when the society it serves prefers confirmation to challenge? In an echo-chamber society, people tend to trust…
What should Wildlife Week in Mokokchung mean?
There is nothing wrong with taking a state-level government programme beyond Kohima and into the districts. It is, in fact, encouraging. The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is…