Kohima: Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav released two new books at the North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre headquarters in Chumoukedima this Friday. He introduced Nagas: The Knowledge Practitioners, penned by Alok Kumar Kanungo and Dr. Alino Sumi, alongside Nagaland Textiles: Threads That Weave Stories by Sentila T. Yanger. The works shine a light on local heritage. They frame culture as a living, evolving body of expertise transmitted across centuries.
Yadav dismissed the idea that indigenous wisdom is just folklore. He argued that it is a concrete system built on years of observation, experimentation, and adaptation. The Governor noted that traditional practices concerning agriculture, crafts, forestry, and natural resources hold immense value. He warned against cultural amnesia in the face of rapid technological growth. The challenge, he said, is to create a bridge between the old and the new.
Documentation must be precise. It requires deep sensitivity toward the communities who own this knowledge. Ownership and intellectual rights must remain protected. Yadav stated, "Such documentation should be undertaken with sensitivity to the communities from whom the knowledge originated, with due recognition of their identity, ownership, dignity and intellectual rights."
The Governor urged educational institutions to use these texts. He called for village-level research before the current generation of practitioners passes on. Young scholars should focus on oral traditions, architecture, traditional medicine, and craftsmanship. NEZCC Director Alobo Naga praised the publications as vital steps in shielding Naga identity from fading away. His center continues to back researchers who capture these folk practices and art forms.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 9:47am
Governor Yadav suggested that traditional wisdom holds real-world solutions for modern crises. He argued that time-tested community practices offer specific insights into fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, and managing natural resources for sustainable living. For the Governor, the goal is not to ditch progress for the past, but to force a conversation between the two.
He also expanded on the scope of preservation. He stated that heritage isn't just about saving old relics, it's about safeguarding the knowledge systems and rituals that produced them. He specifically noted that Naga textiles serve as historical records, where every pattern and color choice tracks the identity, memory, and social evolution of a community.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 1:49pm
Co-author Alino Sumi stated the book aims to shift the academic gaze away from the history of headhunting. Instead, the work catalogues practical skills like Chakhesang trapping methods, Pochury salt making, and the communal fishing techniques of the Lotha and Sumi tribes, alongside burial customs and megalithic traditions.
Sentila T. Yanger described her book on textiles as a collection of living archives. She tracked the weaving narratives of 15 distinct Naga communities, calling for weavers and knowledge keepers to share the responsibility of sustaining these craft traditions. The event also featured cultural performances by the Nagaland Bhojpuri Samaj and students from Eklavya School.
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