Morung Express News
Kohima | August 25
The two days seminar on ‘Modernization without Westernization” and on illegal immigrants which got underway today at the Zonal Council Hall called for ‘indigenization of modernization.’ Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho, who graced the inaugural session as chief guest emphasized on the need to develop ‘our own model’ of modernization, according to culture.
Thenucho said that westernization is not necessarily modernization. “We can be modern without imitating the liberal west”, he told the seminar, adding, that modernization and westernization are entirely two different cultures.
“We must also influence others with our culture, and to do that we must master our culture”, Thenucho stated.
On illegal immigrants, Thenucho said that the latter has added to the menace of population explosion and that it was responsible for all kinds of evils in the society. “Those politicians, who thrive on illegal immigrant to stay in power, are selling out their political and democratic rights”, the Home Minister said.
Prof. Gangmumei Kamei, who presented a paper on ‘Westernization without Modernization’ underscored ‘indigenization of modernization.’ He said that alien civilization and culture cannot be implanted on a people of a country with an ancient civilization and culture.
“It requires the involvement of indigenous people in the process and their acceptance of the process of change. Institutions cannot be transferred; they have to be transformed. So Indigenization of the process of modernization is called for,” Prof Kamei said.
He also said that the process of modernization has shown it cannot be brought about by transfer and implantation of the modern institutions in the transitional societies of the modernizing countries.
“Lifeways can not be adopted, they have to be adapted according to the genius of the indigenous people”, Gangmumei also said.
Westernization is a misguided norm of change in the tribal society. The tribal society, Prof. said, is not yet modernized as long as their mode of production is agricultural and their life style is tribal and rural. However, the indigenous people are conscious of the need to bring about modernization according to their genius based on their cultural heritage and identity and they need not do by aping of an alien culture and an alien way of life.
“In the perspective, there is no way of retreat from the process of modernization which is raging the country. The problems usually connected with modernization have increased tremendously. These are to be resolved. For this a rational modernization based on Indian genius and wisdom without aping the west is called for”, the Gamgmumei added.
The seminar will discuss on illegal immigrants on Sunday, where various resource persons will make paper presentations.
Participants, which comprises of scholars, professors and social workers from different State of India are taking part in the 2 days seminar. The seminar is organized by Janajati Vikas Samiti, Nagaland.
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