What is psychology? Well, it is not a new word needing an explanation but here just as a reminder, psychology as dictionary explains ‘‘it is science of mind and behaviour. The ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society”
Keeping aside its meaning and goal of its studies, when we look at the scenario of present Nagaland it is very ambiguous as a whole. Every day we talk of our society with distaste and complaints from every nook and cranny. Morning dailies conveys but bitter truth. And every individual dances along with it as though we are slaves of the ruling truth. Of course there are people who understand the core of the existing episode regardless of their effort to try and mould our state or just stay numb. However, we are all masters of finding out a reason to blame and judge the sitcom. As a victim trying to find out an answer to the big question mark of our Naga society it came to my cognition that every tiny bit to bigger misfortunes erupts from the psychological status of an individual. Every individual has different psychological perspective in life but the common notion as an individual has a remarkable copy paste trend in the minds of Nagas.
Hundreds of years back our Nagaland, as we know, has been a land of head hunting, ruling with superstitious beliefs, tradition, custom, and bias on gender and the like. Yet with all its shortcomings, weakness and behind civilization our forefathers were clear of their identity of where they stand and who they were. Today our state in a vast developing era has taken up so much and many more changes in life that now a pinch of confusion has left a mark on every human mind. Changes are good, modifications are better and development in overall is much appreciated by everyone universally however the plight of our story is that we are losing our identity. Had our people be upgrading our own culture, tradition and our land then there wouldn’t be much debates and confusion ruling our generation.
But sadly our mind coop quickly with the imitations of western lifestyle, Korean fashions, Japanese fights, Chinese technologies etc. which has led us to the verge of identity crisis and psychological differences. These problems arise because I believe Nagas fall back in the full execution of mind power and reasoning which accumulates to the downfall of better Nagaland. Our land with all the blissful blessings of God is a place to be much appreciated. But where are all the credits gone? The fact lies cold and hard for our land because we Nagas less appreciate its beauty, go touring and visits anywhere and everywhere but not think of exploring our land. We spend heaps of money to get education in places where Nagas are not acknowledged. Our people go places and put efforts with best possible labour which in turn gets paid of discrimination.
And Nagaland? Booming with the income of unemployment and degradation of educational institution with lower rates of enrolment comparatively. Do we not have a naturally beautiful land to explore with greater interest? Is it not possible to get better education in our land itself? Aren’t we Nagas capable to reach the heights of industrialization and not just depend on other land? What could be the major problem of all these? The hereditary belief has a negative pose which is injected in the minds of Nagas. The attitude of I cannot, we cannot, you should, you should not, etc. is curbing the possibilities to renovate the existing society. Even the word “Nagaland for Christ” stands contradictory if analysed deeply because the activities and the headlines of local dailies or tabloid conveys unbelievable acts which is less expected as a Christian land. When it comes to Christianity and faith Nagas are so used to with it, being born and brought up in a Christian land. Ironically it has become a habitual custom and the sense of true Christianity has lost its vibrant and the true conviction of a man as a Christian is missing.
The hurricane of imitating others and the hereditary belief and habitual weakness are not just the problem of our society but the communication level of the generation chasm also plays a cold cruel rule creation confusion and misunderstanding in the minds of the mass. Our elder generation had a harder way of experiencing life with less or no access to exercise the beauty of life to its fuller extend. Today the technological invasion has swept a wave of pinching the sense of possibilities in life and we are all pampered especially by technology either it be media, machines, engines and all the like, that surely we cannot go back to the life style of dry days and start all over again. On the other hand elders try their possibly best way to preserve our cultural life style which of course stands as a challenging task to the already existing pleasure of today’s generation and here the developmental psychology adds another problem where it shows a picture a of stagnant state.
We highly need a major revolution of understanding from both ends and not just playing the convenient role of individual understanding or desires. Development or changes are necessary without which our life will be tagged as outdated generation and the elder generation should also understand the needs of modification and moving forward with the century. On equal note the younger generation especially the youth should perceive the limitations of changes and the sense of preserving our identity should be listed as a major priority. The required call of the present generation is to be witty and indigenous along with the scholarly status. Our elder generation should also acknowledge the needs and desires of the present generation in matters of lifestyle, fashion, education etc. because the hours of living in a confined box is not considered civilised as per the needs of today’s fast moving world.
The only thing that matters is to know who we are and where we stand. The level of understanding should rule the society from both ends. The ultimate necessity from the head of elders is to abduct the impregnable attitude of sticking with understanding of their experience alone but guide the mass in the right way of change keeping our identity safe. All these prevailing crisis of a stagnant psychology lies unattended and unsolved. It is not something that a government or the society can make a forceful law to bring the diversion of mind set and the attitude towards life but it is purely the call of an individual alone. So let us all dig up the roots of psychological demerits in our society and expand the possible understanding and right attitude as a human. I believe, unison in understanding our life’s as a responsible Naga will have the power to penetrate through all the existing bias, selfish acts, misunderstandings and all the corruption. Let us abduct the attitude of obtuse nature and stand up to wash the doomed curtain of Naga society.
Atsungbo Emsong
Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication
SMU
Keeping aside its meaning and goal of its studies, when we look at the scenario of present Nagaland it is very ambiguous as a whole. Every day we talk of our society with distaste and complaints from every nook and cranny. Morning dailies conveys but bitter truth. And every individual dances along with it as though we are slaves of the ruling truth. Of course there are people who understand the core of the existing episode regardless of their effort to try and mould our state or just stay numb. However, we are all masters of finding out a reason to blame and judge the sitcom. As a victim trying to find out an answer to the big question mark of our Naga society it came to my cognition that every tiny bit to bigger misfortunes erupts from the psychological status of an individual. Every individual has different psychological perspective in life but the common notion as an individual has a remarkable copy paste trend in the minds of Nagas.
Hundreds of years back our Nagaland, as we know, has been a land of head hunting, ruling with superstitious beliefs, tradition, custom, and bias on gender and the like. Yet with all its shortcomings, weakness and behind civilization our forefathers were clear of their identity of where they stand and who they were. Today our state in a vast developing era has taken up so much and many more changes in life that now a pinch of confusion has left a mark on every human mind. Changes are good, modifications are better and development in overall is much appreciated by everyone universally however the plight of our story is that we are losing our identity. Had our people be upgrading our own culture, tradition and our land then there wouldn’t be much debates and confusion ruling our generation.
But sadly our mind coop quickly with the imitations of western lifestyle, Korean fashions, Japanese fights, Chinese technologies etc. which has led us to the verge of identity crisis and psychological differences. These problems arise because I believe Nagas fall back in the full execution of mind power and reasoning which accumulates to the downfall of better Nagaland. Our land with all the blissful blessings of God is a place to be much appreciated. But where are all the credits gone? The fact lies cold and hard for our land because we Nagas less appreciate its beauty, go touring and visits anywhere and everywhere but not think of exploring our land. We spend heaps of money to get education in places where Nagas are not acknowledged. Our people go places and put efforts with best possible labour which in turn gets paid of discrimination.
And Nagaland? Booming with the income of unemployment and degradation of educational institution with lower rates of enrolment comparatively. Do we not have a naturally beautiful land to explore with greater interest? Is it not possible to get better education in our land itself? Aren’t we Nagas capable to reach the heights of industrialization and not just depend on other land? What could be the major problem of all these? The hereditary belief has a negative pose which is injected in the minds of Nagas. The attitude of I cannot, we cannot, you should, you should not, etc. is curbing the possibilities to renovate the existing society. Even the word “Nagaland for Christ” stands contradictory if analysed deeply because the activities and the headlines of local dailies or tabloid conveys unbelievable acts which is less expected as a Christian land. When it comes to Christianity and faith Nagas are so used to with it, being born and brought up in a Christian land. Ironically it has become a habitual custom and the sense of true Christianity has lost its vibrant and the true conviction of a man as a Christian is missing.
The hurricane of imitating others and the hereditary belief and habitual weakness are not just the problem of our society but the communication level of the generation chasm also plays a cold cruel rule creation confusion and misunderstanding in the minds of the mass. Our elder generation had a harder way of experiencing life with less or no access to exercise the beauty of life to its fuller extend. Today the technological invasion has swept a wave of pinching the sense of possibilities in life and we are all pampered especially by technology either it be media, machines, engines and all the like, that surely we cannot go back to the life style of dry days and start all over again. On the other hand elders try their possibly best way to preserve our cultural life style which of course stands as a challenging task to the already existing pleasure of today’s generation and here the developmental psychology adds another problem where it shows a picture a of stagnant state.
We highly need a major revolution of understanding from both ends and not just playing the convenient role of individual understanding or desires. Development or changes are necessary without which our life will be tagged as outdated generation and the elder generation should also understand the needs of modification and moving forward with the century. On equal note the younger generation especially the youth should perceive the limitations of changes and the sense of preserving our identity should be listed as a major priority. The required call of the present generation is to be witty and indigenous along with the scholarly status. Our elder generation should also acknowledge the needs and desires of the present generation in matters of lifestyle, fashion, education etc. because the hours of living in a confined box is not considered civilised as per the needs of today’s fast moving world.
The only thing that matters is to know who we are and where we stand. The level of understanding should rule the society from both ends. The ultimate necessity from the head of elders is to abduct the impregnable attitude of sticking with understanding of their experience alone but guide the mass in the right way of change keeping our identity safe. All these prevailing crisis of a stagnant psychology lies unattended and unsolved. It is not something that a government or the society can make a forceful law to bring the diversion of mind set and the attitude towards life but it is purely the call of an individual alone. So let us all dig up the roots of psychological demerits in our society and expand the possible understanding and right attitude as a human. I believe, unison in understanding our life’s as a responsible Naga will have the power to penetrate through all the existing bias, selfish acts, misunderstandings and all the corruption. Let us abduct the attitude of obtuse nature and stand up to wash the doomed curtain of Naga society.
Atsungbo Emsong
Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication
SMU
