Kohima, March 19 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today demanded the halting of all ongoing workshops organised under the aegis of SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) in Naga institutions, alleging the imposition of “alien cultural and religious practices” in the Naga homeland.
No such programmes should be conducted in the future without prior consultation with relevant Naga stakeholders, the NSF asserted in a press release, while condemning and expressing strong opposition to the ongoing workshops in various educational institutions across Kohima and Dimapur.
“The NSF stands firm in its stance that such programmes, which seek to impose alien cultural and religious practices, have no place in the Naga homeland,” it added.
It further alleged that under the guise of “enriching formal education,” external forces are subtly attempting to dilute the indigenous identity and impose a cultural assimilation agenda, declaring it “unacceptable.”
The Naga people have a rich and distinct cultural heritage, and we will not tolerate any attempt to infringe upon our way of life, traditions, and beliefs, the apex Naga students’ body asserted.
Any effort to introduce religious or cultural elements that do not align with the indigenous ethos is an outright violation of their rights as a people, it added.
The NSF also held that such workshops are a waste of valuable academic time, depriving students of meaningful education and their right to a curriculum that prioritises their intellectual and personal growth.
With the already limited academic calendar and various challenges faced by students, it is irresponsible to force programmes that neither contribute to their academic advancement nor uphold the indigenous ethos of the Naga people, it added.
The Federation also took strong exception to what it termed as “guidelines imposed for these workshops, which dictate specific ceremonial practices, mandatory seating arrangements, and symbolic gestures that are contrary to our customs and beliefs.”
The enforced removal of footwear before entering the hall, the requirement for a ministry logo, and the regulated felicitation of artists reflect an imposition of foreign cultural norms upon educational institutions, it contended.
Such directives undermine the fundamental principles of cultural respect, it added.
In this connection, the NSF urged all school administrations, students, and parents to remain vigilant against imposed cultural and religious programmes that do not align with Naga heritage and demanded the cessation of such workshops pending consultation.
The NSF further asserted that it remains committed to defending the identity, rights, and future of Naga students and would not hesitate to take appropriate measures, including democratic protests, if its demands are ignored.
