KOHIMA: Naga People’s Front (NPF) secretary general and MLA, Achumbemo Kikon called upon the Naga youth to expand their vision beyond village and tribal boundaries, saying the need of the hour is to build a united, progressive Naga society rooted in tradition and intellectual growth.
Speaking as the special guest at the valedictory programme of the Lotha Students’ Union Conference at Wokha in Nagaland today, Kikon said student conferences must not become routine events but “intellectual gatherings that inspire wisdom and impact society collectively”.
“A gathering of this sort cannot go empty-handed. We must return to our villages, our ranges, and our cities with new experiences, memories, and, most of all, wisdom — the kind we do not get from the classroom,” he said, emphasizing the value of such platforms in shaping future leadership.
Touching on the theme ‘Beyond Borders’, Kikon reminded students that the Naga political movement itself began because elders thought beyond tribal identities. “Had it not been for the Naga political movement pioneered by our forefathers, we would still be living as small communities — as Mao, as Lotha, as Ao, or as Rongmei — instead of as Nagas,” he said, recalling milestones from the 1918 Naga Club to the formation of the NNC at Wokha in 1946.
He added that the pioneers, despite limited education, possessed an extraordinary vision for an organisation that represented all Nagas. “Today, with far greater education and qualifications, our thinking process must rise above village politics and tribal interests,” he urged.
Warning that a “divided house cannot stand”, Kikon said unity and reconciliation were essential for the future, and that the responsibility lies with the younger generation. He particularly highlighted the conduct of educated youth on social media, saying their behaviour is shaping public discourse. “Are we spreading positivity and cooperation or hate and negativity?” he asked, challenging students to contribute constructively to the Naga collective.
Kikon also said modernization should not sever Nagas from their cultural roots. “Respecting elders, caring for one another, and motivating each other are part of Naga culture,” he said, urging students to retrieve such values from the past and integrate them into daily life.
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On education, he warned against becoming a “half-educated society”, stating that dependency on shortcuts undermined intellectual growth. “We must become avid and ferocious readers if we are to compete in a globalized world,” he remarked.
The NPF leader also said the responsibility to build a united Naga future rests with the young generation. “If the Naga community collapses, each tribe, each village, and each individual will collapse. What keeps us alive today is that we remain one Naga family,” he added.