The International community through the United Nations has acknowledged the desperate situation of the indigenous peoples worldwide by commemorating the international indigenous peoples day on the 9th August every calendar year. In further acknowledgment of the needs and impoverished situation of the indigenous peoples, the United Nations further declared the second decade. This second declaration is required since the first decade (1994-2004) has not been felt enough to address the various concerns raised by the indigenous nations and peoples.
On the 17th of December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly through its resolution 54/120 endorsed the recommendation of declaring 12th August as the International Youth Day. The International Youth Day is an acknowledgement and affirmation that the active involvement of youths is fundamental for building a secure and just world.
Today’s youth the world over, carries the responsibilities and challenges to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS, hunger and poverty, social and economic deprivation, political violence, crime, globalism, nuclear armament and in more recent times the phenomena of terrorism. In the face of such monumental challenges, the youths across the world are being called upon to unite and toil for transformation.
Two months from now, in early October, world leaders and governments will be meeting to make decisions that affect the lives and future of young people for years to come. It is once again the responsibility of today’s youth to speak out their dilemmas, hopes and dreams in the face of an uncertain future. The present youth on behalf of the unborn future must take ownership in securing the rights of the people and ensure that governments respect the will of the people.
The state government of Nagaland has of late officially declared 2004-2005 as the year of the youth with emphasis to address the genuine concerns of the younger Naga generation.
In the wake of multifaceted changes, Naga youths are experiencing communication gap across generations and many young people today openly admit that the existing policies and systems have not adequately reflected their needs and interest. There are perceived generational conflict of interests primarily on areas of career choices, traditional institutions and customs, lifestyles, worldviews, belief and the assumption that ‘the other’ cannot understand.
Generally speaking, while we have an emerging generation of Naga youths keeping in pace with the rest of the world, we have on the other end of the spectrum a generation that just refuses to shift from their lens of perspective. The dominance and exclusivity of elderly traditional style of exclusive decision-making bodies have reinforced youths to further consider the traditional way of life as archaic and antiquated. This however does not mean lack of interest but rather reflects the need for appropriate space and means to communicate each others needs and concerns. The lack of space for Naga youths to effectively and respectfully participate in Naga society is today a focal question of democracy.
What we need today is a paradigm shift; a shift that emerges out of a dialogue between generations. Naga youths will have to grabble with the task of securing a dignified future by incorporating the wisdom, attitude and core values that have been passed on by our elders, while rejecting and perhaps transforming the ancient customs that may not be so relevant today.
It is time for Naga youths to share their opinions, ideas and to participate in the process of change. More importantly the youths have the responsibility of modernizing our traditions through a respectful process of dialogue between the elders and the youths of our society.