Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• They are living in the 21st century with a theme of world is our home that will bring them positive and broad outlook in life for prosperity and future vision of oneness.
• Young people today have the best opportunity to make a difference to our broken society. While on one hand it is very frustrating to live in a situation where the older generation continuously ignores our voices and our aspirations, but still, they have no way to go but to let young people take over the reign of the society. Today, some of our young people are doing nothing but following in the same trend and practice as the older generation, some of our young people are swimming against the current and trying to introduce and follow new practices that are different from what the present system is following. Young people need to creatively find a way to express themselves and to take leadership role in transforming our Naga society.
• Yes, young people can bring positive transformation in naga society as they have experienced the wrong decisions taken by our leaders and they have more idea about what is needed in our society.
• Yes why not, like any other things transformation also requires a process...the future is an opportunity, not an inheritance. Young people must take note it seriously.
• Yes but not in a drastic way at one go.
• Yes, it can be if the younger generations are given a proper education with sound moral environment which is co-responsible by the elders even.
• Yes. Give younger generations the opportunity and they will show naga society how much Naga's r behind n how much they had been ignorant.
• Yes but only if we can beat the system.
• Yes. Young people with a broader outlook can definitely bring positive transformation respecting the past, consulting with the elders together with the recent changes that they are experiencing.
• Yes, if we the educated youth take these thing seriously and try our best to unite and work together to beat the present system that is prevailing. We need to be wise and have guts in our belly to stand up and fight. But I'm afraid how many are willing to walk the talk.
• YES YES YES!!! our Naga society has hit its rock bottom .. from here we can only go up and the younger generations are our only Hope.
• YES YES YES. Young people in Nagaland are already ushering positive transformation. There is definitely a shift in mindset from what it was 5 years back. No doubt the system is still tough but nevertheless we have young fearless people who are doing what they have to do against all odds. We have young people who are breaking barriers in the field of music (Alobo Naga,Tetseo Sisters, Zoe Madrigal..), sports (Nagaland Premier League), entrepreneurship,(look at the flourishing business ventures that young people have taken up), just to name a few. These people are doing well just because of their sheer determination and POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Every individual has the capacity to bring about a positive transformation. But its important that we start inculcating a positive attitude first.
• Yes indeed! What is there to hope for in the future if we do not have a hope in our youth? I am blessed to meet young people everyday who want a change, who know they have to take charge of their future, who dream big and know they have to start small... It is those who have not had much who really appreciate what they have achieved. Some take a longer route to understand and there are those who know it right from the word go and yet all have the same goal.. Granted, there are many road blocks they face, from economic challenges to psychological attacks. As mentioned above, having a positive attitude is a must, but a positive attitude that believes in an all round development as a truly good human being, one who is not selfish and looking only towards self importance. Today the world will not have room anymore for those who think they alone are the ones in control... Many young people are ready, they need to be consulted in a broader spectrum and arena, not just a syndicated few for whatever connections they may have. Imagine all the great philosophers, inventors and change makers we may be losing when we do not give opportunity for young people in every corner of Nagaland to grow... Healthy and clean competition has to be introduced in every part of Nagaland for real development to happen... Someone sitting in one corner of the state alone should not be controlling everything that needs change in every corner of Nagaland. Simultaneous and continuous encouragement for these young and as yet idealistic people should be pushed... They only need a chance... Some of the best ideas are from the Young think tanks we visit. I for one have great hopes for them!
• Yes, because we 'are the future'. Young people though young knows what is happening more than the older generation and this can help in the society as a whole not some old people gibbering about their past glory which happened during Gandhi and Nehru periods. Young people are more receptive to changes as can be seen in our present society which I feel if tap properly can really transform our society but making sure that it does not go out of hand.
• Absolutely! 'Young Constructive Minds' is an opportunity for our stagnant Naga society, it will certainly bring a positive change in people's mind. I read/heard things are looking brighter these days back home.
• Yes very much. Our elders & the present lot has ruined any progress in naga context bcos of their own gains & 4 the love of money. I believe, youths of 2day will bring developments, progress n will definitely bring a revolution.
• Give us a term of govt. n we will make Nagaland the most beautiful place....Instead of building bridges, big roads, looting 4m govt. exchequer 4 ones own gain is bringing the new generation to its lowest state.
• The youths of today has been under the tyrannical rule of the present big shots. When these big shots retire n go...i believe the younger lot will work earnestly for the society's wellbeing. Its been 40plus years since nagaland was made a state out of the naga hills. But sadly our elder generation has spoil the broth. Everything and anything might happen but they wont let development come by.Rather the whole 'mullah' 4m New Delhi are distributed among the Ministers, Bureaucrats, Directors, & etc etc etc. So much 4 the self centered "as.-ho..s" that they have plundered all the development funds to built their palatial houses n having 4 to 5 vehicles all new n latest. One cannot fathom the degree of corruption in Nagaland, albiet being a Christian community.
• Young people can certainly usher in progressive change as long as they remain selfless and refrain from self glorification or gets addicted to power. The hope of the Nagas lies in ethical youth leadership.
• Young, dynamic and honest people can make a transformation.. but it's not an individual work....Everyone has to contribute their parts....Onlookers won't make or bring any changes.
• Young people can certainly usher in progressive change as long as they remain selfless and refrain from self glorification or gets addicted to power. The hope of the Nagas lies in ethical youth leadership.
• The young minds or so called, our young generations have already started transforming our society positively, no doubt. Provided, we've good roads, colossal sports stadium in every districts, sophisticated theaters, innovative trade-shows for the entrepreneurs and Mass Media Institutes; transformations will happened automatically.
• Very much, but on the condition that they possess holistic mindset towards our people with responsible in-depth knowledge on Nagas vis-a-vis the outside world and morally sound judgement. Forgive if I’m mistaken, but we're at a stage where we bluntly 'think' the young can do everything good for the society which in reality, is not possible so long we encompass lives... Education acquired from school isn't 'life' and one's vast knowledge from studies doesn't fulfill criteria to run the affair of lives, rather it is aged, holistic knowledge on lives which always survive untold hurdles.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• There is no doubt that young people are much more educated, they have better skills and are in the know of what is happening around the world. Yet, our Naga society has yet to come to a stage where they appreciate the positive contributions that young people have. This is mainly because our Naga society judges leaders not by who they are, but by what they have and their stand on the Naga issue. A lot of young Nagas are removed from the Naga issue, not because they care less, not because they are ignorant, but because our elders and leaders have behaved in such a parochial manner that our young Nagas are fed up and tired of the kind of lives that we are all living. So even when our young Nagas are in a better position to make a difference, our society will continue to ignore them because our elders and our leaders are unable to come to terms with the reality of the present situation.
• Sorry, from my opinion, until and unless the different factions in our Land are united and Reconciled between them like those early years i.e., 3 or 4 decades ago, the youths cannot bring the required changes since there are so many/uncountabe internal difficulties and that which every one knows and that it is a open secret in our society. Though there no denying the fact that there are so many able and budding individuals which can not only bring the required changes but also help in creating more secure jobs/employment opportunities especially in the private sector as almost all our people have a mentality of only government jobs being a security from uncertainties. They cannot even exploit to their full potential in every sector or profession that they take up.
• One day. But right now, NO! Because the young people today are interested only in drinks and going to bars n restaurants. Young people smart but only in parties. Other people they party for celebration for achieving something, but here we nagas doesn't know what is party. We are only copy cats and not the real transformer.
• No transformation possible as long as the money power reigns in naga society. possible only if all the elected members stops favoritism, nepotism, selfishness, and stop taking of mobilization 10% from every contractors and govt bills. Possible only when the naga elect 60 MLAs who are not corrupt.
• There is no difference between the young and the aged nagas. Given our corrupt culture, it is of no surprise to see some of the so-called young Gen-X leaders knocking at the doors of babus and big blood brothers (the politicians) asking for alms in the name of this and that student union and end-up buying the latest bike, with visits to KFC, Starbuck with an ever willing parasite.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• We are yet to see any young leaders rise up to the occasion and show that they are different from the present crop of leaders. Some of those who have shown some leadership skills however do not even seem to know their history. So just having leadership skills and the privilege and connections to be in leadership position is not enough. We want young leaders who know their own history, who are sure of themselves and have a vision for the Nagas.
• Aye, they (or we) can but not too soon. The young Nagas have still got more to learn from the elders.
• Young people have the best opportunity but so far they have not yet proven themselves. They need to really prove that they are leaders in their own right and are capable of contributing to positive transformation in Nagaland.
• Young or Old doesn't matter we need Honest people.
• Young individuals should take the initiative with the guidance of the elders to usher our society in into this fast changing community that is the age of science and technology.
• Young, dynamic and honest people can make a transformation.. but it's not an individual work....Everyone has to contribute their parts....Onlookers won't make or bring any changes.
• What happens in the future is decided by what is being done in the present. For anything to happen, the basic requirement is like-mindedness and for it to develop, the youths have to be guided by a common principle. Judging from recent events, the contribution of the young generation is found wanting. The real question therefore is not whether the young people can bring about positive changes but whether enough is being done to better guide the young people into bringing about positive changes.
• I think the young people of today have ample opportunities to make positive contributions. But the problem is most of them don’t even know their history and are confused about their identity. It is a shame that some of them keep mentioning about how proud they are to be Indians. Those who identify themselves as Indians and not as a Naga how can they make any contributions that are in the interest of the Naga people. I am not against Indians, but we need to make a clear cut between being a Naga and a Indian because only Nagas can help bring positive change to Nagaland.
