I am a Kuzhami-Chakhesangand my Mother Tongue is Kuzhale. I have been working for Kuzha Literature Forum since the year 1999, and with my limited knowledge in the Literature, I am sincerely working for the promotion of Kuzhale with my teamtill today.
On 18th January 2008, a Meeting was convened by Mr. NipusilieAngami, Addl. Director (HoD), School Education, Nagaland for all Literature Committees, L.Os and L.As with the Director of SCERT, Nagaland, which was held atUra Academy Hall, Kohima. In the meeting Mrs. Z. Bano Jamir, the then Principal Secretary, Dept. of Education, sought that all the Seventeen(17) Languages as approved by the Govt. of Nagaland be studied up to Class X,thus promoting every language/mother tongue of Nagaland till HSLC level. She then asked each and every Chairman of the Literature Committees up to what stage/Class their respective Mother Tonguewas read in School. Kuzhalewas being read only till Class IV during that year. In seeking to promote the study of our Mother Tongue,we upgradedby one Class each year,and reached Class VIII in the year 2012.
In 2013, the textbook for Class IX was about to be introduced when we were surprised to learn that permission from the Government was required to study Mother Tongue for Class VIII and above. Fortunately, we had received permission for Class VIII from Director, School Education, Nagaland. But we were told that for Class IX & X,permission had to be sought from the Government of Nagaland again. So we wrote an application on 15th June 2013 to the Director, School Education. He then sent the application tothe Chairman, Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and the Letter was forwarded to the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Department of School Education, Nagaland, Kohima on 29th Nov. 2014. i.e. after 1 year and 5 months of submission of our application, after so many queries.After moving up and downthe concerned Departments viz., 1.Director of School Education, 2.Director of SCERT and 3. Chairman NBSE,the Commissioner Secretary to the Government of Nagaland and even the Honorable Minister of School Education, the matter has not been solved and the permission for studying in Mother Tongue for Class IX & X for the 13 Languages in Nagaland has not been given till this day. This is excepting four(4)other major Languages of Nagaland, viz., 1. Angami, 2.Ao, 3.Lotha, and 4. Sema, which have been studied till higher classes since long ago.
Subsequently, after a long hiatus, it was learnt that the Chief Secretary, Nagaland had set up a Committee for recommendation of the 13 Mother Tongues of Nagaland for study in Class IX & X. A few of the Literature Boards Chairmen submitted a Joint Application again and also met Mr. F.P. Solo, the Committee Chairman, Commissioner Secretary in his Office and then the Committee Secretary. Mr. VipralhouKesizie, Director, SCERT, before the Committee meeting for our case. We were pleased that they were in our favour.
The Committee sat on 16th Feb. 2016. But it came to our knowledge that the decision taken was against thepermission for study of Class IX & X for the 13 Mother Tongues in Nagaland.
Due to this decision to disallow study of our mother tongue in Class IX &X, the students who have studied their mother tongue up to Class VIII have been forced to drop the subject abruptly and pick up a new subject for the twohigher classes to successfully receive their High School Leaving Certificates. One can only imagine the distress and discouragement this situation brings, as these students simply cannot catch up with the others who have seamlessly studied their mother tongue/ additional subject since primary level. And those students who had begun to study their mother tongue from lower primary level have to drop the subject by Class V and continue with another subject upwards so that they don’t face the same fate and struggle in the High School examinations. This decision of the Governmentmay possibly hamper the preservation and development of the mother tongueof the 13 language groups.
In both National and International levels, preserving the Mother Tongue/ Tribal Languages has become a major concern. In the year 2013, a survey was conducted by the Vadodara-based Basha Research and Publication Centre and has revealed that out of 1,100 Languages available in India in the year 1961, nearly 220 have disappeared and now there are about 880 Languages available in India. Again in another Survey conducted by the UN, there are 6,000 to 7,000 languages in the world today. But in 100 years, 90% of them will have disappeared. This shows that 5950 languages will disappear out of the 6500. How many Naga Languages will be in this “disappearing” group, if we don’t maintain and promote our Languages now?
Suggestion: All the 13 Naga Languages, viz., 1. Chokri, 2. Kuzha(Khezha), 3. Chang, 4.Khiamniungan, 5.Kuki, 6.Konyak, 7.Kachari, 8.Phom, 9.Pochury, 10.Rengma, 11.Sangtam, 12.Yimchungrü and 13.Zeliang as approved by Nagaland Government, may not be given Permission for Class IX & X in one go, if there are complications. But those interested in promoting theirown Mother Tongue and are able to develop, may be encouraged to go ahead by giving permission for studying in Class IX & X in their Mother Tongue.
One cannot see as to why every language/ mother tongue of Nagaland should not enjoy equal status and opportunity while pursuing to develop and preserve their God-given gift. If a certain sectionof the society is suppressed, the principles of equality, social justice and unity as envisaged by the Constitution will greatly be undermined. And above all, the very essence of being a Christian state becomes questionable.
Dr. Ditsolo Kapfo, Chairman Kuzha Literature Board
