Rev Dr Tuisem A Shishak, Principal Emeritus of Patkai Christian College.
Dimapur, July 31 (MExN): Department of Education, Patkai Christian College, organised a workshop on ‘Relevance of Naga traditional values’ in the Bundrock Chapel Auditorium of the college on July 31.
Rev Dr Tuisem A Shishak, Principal Emeritus of Patkai Christian College was the resource person, stated a press release from PCC Mass Comm.
In his keynote address, Rev Dr Shishak expressed joy upon seeing students wearing traditional attire and encouraged them to carry the tradition forward. He spoke about the fading memory of ancestral practices, the importance of festivals, agriculture, and community-based living, and how these shaped the resilience of Naga society.
He recalled how in the past, families would take their children to the farm and teach them survival skills, and how the villagers maintained strong bonds and lived in unity.
He spoke on traditional spiritual beliefs, especially animism, where sacred trees, rocks, and forests were believed to house spirits, and rituals were performed with reverence.
Rev Dr Shishak also traced the historical journey of the Nagas, and discussed the importance of morungs in certain Naga tribes where elders trained young men in discipline, survival, and culture.
He emphasised that the Naga people could not have survived without agriculture and community cooperation. Festivals, folk dances, and traditional food were central to their way of life, he asserted. He urged the audience to take their culture seriously, study more about Naga history, and pass it on to future generations.
During the interactive Q&A session, a student asked how youth could preserve traditional attire and dance. He responded by affirming that traditional clothing is one way which has deep meaning and purpose, though its authenticity is being lost through modern modifications, he added.
Earlier, the opening remark was delivered by Dean of Social Sciences, PCC, Neilevono Vupru. She reminded the audience that the Naga people have lived independently and sustained their culture without external rule, and that remembering one’s roots is essential in maintaining identity.
The event was attended by students, faculty members, and guests, and aimed to reawaken interest in indigenous Naga culture and wisdom amidst the pressures of modernity.
