By Moa Jamir
On the eve of its 27th General Conference in 2017, this column had observed that the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) risked slipping into political posturing at the expense of genuine activism.
The question then was whether the Federation would rediscover and its ‘mojorole as a principled body committed to the welfare and aspirations of the Nagas, or continue down the path of politicking.
Eight years later, as the NSF prepares for its 31st General Conference in Tseminyu under the theme “Resilience in Transition”, that question remains as relevant as ever.
In a curtain raiser, the Federation has described resilience not merely as endurance but as rising with purpose and resisting complacency. This is a necessary reminder at a time when political fatigue and cynicism often pervade Naga public life.
To its credit, the NSF has also issued a self-critical note, acknowledging that it has faltered in some area but reasserting its responsibility to act as the moral compass of Naga society. Such honesty is welcome, for no organisation can meaningfully move forward without introspection. “The transition is not just political; it is generational,” it held, further raising the questions about the place of Naga students in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence and digital disruption.
Yet resilience, if it is to be transformative, must be anchored in responsibility. As a rights’ organisation, the NSF has historically positioned itself as a fearless voice against corruption, injustice, and neglect. That mandate remains vital. However, it must equally be underscored that in fighting for the rights of Nagas, the Federation cannot disregard the rights of others. Human rights are universal, indivisible, and non-negotiable. Empathy and prudent protection must be the guiding principles.
This is particularly urgent when addressing issues such as immigration, often viewed from the prism of demographic change and the protection of indigenous identity. Such concerns cannot be dismissed, for they speak to existential anxieties. But how these concerns are articulated matters just as much as the issues themselves. Too often, the politics of fear and exclusion have dominated the discourse, creating new forms of “othering.” Nagas have long lamented being “othered” within larger political contexts; it would be deeply contradictory to replicate the same patterns against others.
The Federation must therefore ensure that its positions are driven not by expediency or popular sentiment, but by truth, prudence, and a commitment to universal human dignity. Selectivism, as pointed out in 2017, remains a persistent danger: being vociferous on certain matters while maintaining silence on others undermines credibility. Equally damaging is the temptation to soft target vulnerable groups while sidestepping more complex systemic issues. Resilience in transition must mean resisting these easy temptations and embracing the harder path of principled consistency.
The forthcoming conference, with its array of political leaders, academics, and civil society voices, is a chance for renewal. The inclusion of a panel on “Youth as the Bridge to our Political Future” reflects an acknowledgement that generational transition is underway. But the transition cannot only be generational; it must also be ethical. The NSF’s true strength has never been in political patronage but in its moral authority, rooted in the trust of students and the wider community.
As the Federation gathers in Tseminyu, it has an opportunity to reclaim that authority by recommitting itself to facts over fear, humanity over hostility, and principles over politicking. In doing so, it can ensure that resilience is not merely about survival but about shaping a future with dignity, empathy, and justice for all.
For any feedback, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmail.com
