Across the globe, a silent crisis is unfolding. Languages that have carried the wisdom and the echoes of ancestors and the blueprints of unique worldviews are falling silent at an alarming rate. For the Naga people in Nagaland, this is not a distant phenomenon but a pressing reality that strikes at the very core of identity and survival. The reasons why Indigenous languages are so vital extend far beyond simple communication. They are the living libraries of a community, holding intricate knowledge of local ecosystems, sustainable practices, and a complex moral and ethical framework passed down through generations. When an elder passes away without passing on the tongue, a unique way of understanding the world, from the specific names for flora with medicinal properties to the nuanced terms for community governance, is extinguished forever.
The challenges facing Naga Indigenous languages are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. The very forces of globalization and modernization that bring connectivity also erode linguistic diversity. The dominance of English in education and administration, while providing economic opportunity, often comes at the cost of the mother tongue, creating a disconnect between generations. Economic migration to urban centers in search of livelihoods further fragments language communities, as daily life necessitates the use of lingua franca, pushing indigenous dialects to the fringes of family life.
The oral traditions, which form the ground of Naga heritage, folk tales, rituals, stirring stories of headhunters and heroes, are increasingly vulnerable. With the passing away of storytellers and indigenous knowledge-bearers, these intangible treasures risk being lost, as the written word has only recently begun to capture what was once memorised and recited by the kitchen fireside.
However, despair is not an option. The International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032), proclaimed by the United Nations, serves as a global framework to stimulate action, urging nations and communities to take urgent steps to preserve, revitalise and promote indigenous languages. For Nagaland, this Decade is a clarion call to intensify efforts already underway and to forge new pathways. The work of institutions like the Language Translation Centre (LTC) at Fazl Ali College in Mokokchung stands as a model. By retrieving out-of-print Ao literature, translating critical documents like customary laws for the Dobashi Court, and archiving oral traditions, the LTC is actively building a fortification against language erosion. The translation of dramatic works and creative literature into indigenous tongues is essential to enrich the contemporary literary standard and make the languages relevant to younger generations.
Furthermore, the integration of technology offers unprecedented tools for preservation. Digital archives can safely store fragile manuscripts and audio recordings of oral epics, making them accessible to a global audience of Naga youth. Immersive technologies, as seen in other indigenous contexts, hold potential for creating engaging learning environments that capture the depth and expression of elder speakers, fostering a connection that text alone cannot convey. Yet, technology must serve the community’s vision, not replace it. The cornerstone of any revitalisation effort must be inter-generational transmission. Initiatives for early childhood should be formulated and implemented, where children are immersed in their mother tongue, and programmes for adults to learn alongside the young, are crucial for weaving language back into the fabric of daily life. This is a collective societal responsibility, not merely an academic exercise, and therefore, the involvement of apex bodies of various Naga communities in language promotion is equally important. Educational institutions from primary schools to universities like Nagaland University, which recently organised workshops on language revitalisation, have a pivotal role in creating awareness and training a new generation of language champions.
International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032) is more than a UN resolution; it is an opportunity for the Naga people to reaffirm that their languages are not relics of the past but the foundation of a vibrant and distinctive future. It is a decade to translate customary laws not just for courtrooms but for the understanding of the youth, to ensure the folklore is not just documented but told and retold, and to make the mother tongue a language of aspiration and daily relevance. The loss of a language diminishes all of humanity, but for the Naga community, it would sever the very thread that connects the present to a proud and ancient past.
