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…
The road to better roads must begin with accountability
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s proposal to use GST records to track layers of subcontracting in highway projects and limit the extent of outsourcing is a welcome…
Rethinking development through rural revitalization
Rural revitalization in Nagaland should not be mistaken for another government development scheme, a road project or the construction of a new community hall. At its heart, it is about…
A state song for Nagaland can wait
A state song is more than a ceremonial tune. It is a symbol of identity, belonging and the political community that a state represents. Across India, states have adopted official…
When tribal identity overshadows individual merit
Tribalism is often understood as the strong identification of an individual with a particular group, based on shared ancestry, culture, language, history or community. In a diverse society such as…
From tribes to nation states, and what comes next
Human political history is, in many ways, the history of people learning to organise themselves at ever larger scales. Early human communities were small bands of hunter-gatherers, bound by kinship…
On Naga artists and English songs
The rise of several Southeast Asian music artists offers an interesting lesson for musicians in Nagaland: success in music depends on more than talent alone. Many Southeast Asian artists have…
When Tradition Takes the Backseat to Spectacle
Naga folk dances are more than colourful performances. They are expressions of a community’s history, identity and collective memory. Traditionally, dance, music, dress and ceremony were closely connected to village…
Borrowing for Nagaland’s future, or burdening its grandchildren?
A Finance Department order dated January 15, 2026, accessed by Mokokchung Times, shows that Nagaland was allocated Rs 373 crore under the Centre’s Scheme for Special Assistance to States for…
Sikkim’s success offers Nagaland a tourism lesson
Nagaland’s tourism potential is often described in terms of its spectacular landscapes, rich tribal cultures, traditional villages, festivals and biodiversity. Yet when it comes to attracting foreign tourists, the state…