Kohima: Vinolen John walked across the stage at the Senate House on July 24. He earned his Master of Philosophy in History from the University of Cambridge. He is only the second Naga to graduate from the institution, following Dr. Atoho Jakhalu in 2005. The path ahead is clear. John plans to pursue a doctorate, which would make him the first Naga to reach that academic milestone at the university.
He spent his time in England digging through British archives. He found a massive trove of records concerning his home. He is “appalled at the amount of resources and data about us” sitting in overseas vaults. He finds it equally troubling that so few Nagas show interest in these documents. He intends to change that.
His academic focus shifted during his undergraduate years at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. He now specializes in Naga political history, conflict, decolonisation, and public history. He believes the community must own its narrative. He wants to see the Naga story told by Nagas for the Nagas. This goal requires a stronger research culture and a move away from unchecked narratives. He insists that history must be supported by “proof, verifiable and quantifiable evidence.”
John hopes to launch archival projects that involve younger students in Nagaland. He wants to build a body of work that is accessible to the average reader. He credits his faith and family for his success abroad. He maintains that his work is “a stepping stone” to bigger things. He urges his peers to look beyond local borders. He wants them to know that “our own people can also go out and compete with the very best that the rest of the world is producing.”
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