Naga society places great value on community, identity, tradition and belonging. Yet these strengths can become sources of division when loyalty to one’s own group turns into a belief in its superiority, an insistence on recognition or an inability to accept criticism. Social psychology has a term for this tendency: collective narcissism.
Unlike healthy collective pride, collective narcissism rests on the belief that one’s group is exceptional but does not receive the respect it deserves. Perceived slights become grievances, criticism becomes an insult and the success of another group can be interpreted as a threat. The result is not necessarily stronger solidarity, but greater suspicion and hostility.
In Naga society, where tribalism, village-ism and clan loyalties influence social and public life, this concept deserves serious examination. While these bonds provide a sense of belonging, they can also encourage favouritism, deepen divisions and make cooperation across group lines difficult. Loyalty may lead us to overlook the faults of our own people while being quick to criticise others. The achievements of another group may even be seen as a challenge to our own standing. It is worth examining how often such attitudes influence our thinking, decisions and relationships.
Collective identity can provide security, preserve culture and sustain mutual support. Historical grievances and genuine experiences of discrimination must also not be dismissed as mere insecurity. The challenge is to distinguish legitimate collective concerns from an exaggerated need for recognition and superiority.
This is precisely why research is needed. Naga scholars, sociologists and psychologists could examine how group identity, historical grievances, competition and the desire for recognition influence attitudes and behaviour across tribes, villages and institutions. Such work could help determine whether collective narcissism is present in our society, how it manifests itself and what conditions encourage it.
A society confident in its identity should be able to welcome criticism without feeling diminished and recognise another community’s achievements without feeling threatened. Our traditions of solidarity need not be abandoned; they need to be widened.