Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav calls for Naga heritage preservation through traditional knowledge, cultural practices, proper documentation and research, stressing that indigenous traditions can support education, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture and livelihoods while connecting cultural heritage with modern technology.
Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav has called for a broader approach to preserving Naga heritage, stressing that cultural preservation must go beyond safeguarding physical objects and should include the traditional knowledge, practices and cultural systems associated with them.
Governor Yadav, who is also the Chairman of the North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC), made the remarks while releasing two books at the NEZCC headquarters in Chumoukedima on Friday. The publications were Nagas: The Knowledge Practitioners, authored by Alok Kumar Kanungo and Alino Sumi, and Nagaland Textiles – Threads That Weave Stories, authored by Sentila T. Yanger.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the two books focus on different aspects of Naga culture but collectively bring the rich heritage and knowledge traditions of the Naga people into academic and public discussion. He said culture should be recognised as a body of knowledge that has been created, practised, refined and transmitted across generations.
Speaking about Nagas: The Knowledge Practitioners, Governor Yadav said indigenous knowledge should not be regarded merely as folklore. He described it as knowledge developed through observation, experience, experimentation and adaptation within communities over generations.
He highlighted traditional knowledge connected with agriculture, crafts, technologies, forests, natural resources, rituals and material culture, saying these represent valuable knowledge systems developed within communities. Such knowledge, he said, reflects the practical experience and understanding accumulated by generations of people.
Referring to Nagaland Textiles – Threads That Weave Stories, the Governor said Naga shawls should not be viewed simply as pieces of cloth. According to him, they carry identity, memory, social meaning and artistic expression. The colours, patterns, motifs and weaving techniques found in Naga textiles reflect knowledge and traditions that have evolved within different communities.
Governor Yadav also emphasised the importance of systematically documenting indigenous knowledge. He said proper documentation could create an accessible record for researchers, students, artisans, museums and future generations. At the same time, he stressed that documentation should be undertaken with sensitivity towards the communities from whom the knowledge originates.
He said the identity, ownership, dignity and intellectual rights of communities must receive due recognition during the documentation and preservation process. Such an approach, he indicated, would help ensure that cultural knowledge is preserved while respecting the communities that have maintained and transmitted it.
Highlighting the relevance of indigenous knowledge in the present context, Governor Yadav said technological advancement should not result in cultural amnesia. He encouraged younger generations to embrace modern education and technology while remaining connected with the traditional knowledge of their communities.
He further pointed out that traditional knowledge could provide valuable insights into several contemporary challenges, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, responsible use of natural resources and sustainable livelihoods.
According to the Governor, the objective should not be to choose between tradition and modernity. Instead, there should be a meaningful dialogue between traditional knowledge and modern education, science and technology.
Governor Yadav appreciated the contribution of scholars, institutions, researchers, field workers, artisans and elders involved in documenting Naga knowledge and traditions. He urged educational institutions in Nagaland to make greater use of publications dealing with indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.
He also called for increased research by young Naga scholars into languages, oral traditions, architecture, agriculture, traditional medicine, music, textiles, craftsmanship and customary institutions. He stressed the importance of village-level documentation, particularly as traditional knowledge could disappear with the passing of the practitioners who possess it.
The Governor called for greater efforts to document, research, teach and transmit Naga traditions to younger generations so that cultural knowledge remains accessible and relevant in the future.
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NEZCC Director Alobo Naga said the organisation has been supporting scholars, artists and cultural practitioners in documenting traditional knowledge, folk practices, indigenous art forms and other cultural traditions.
He said such initiatives contribute to preserving important aspects of Naga cultural identity and help transmit them to future generations. The release of the two books highlighted the continuing importance of documenting Naga knowledge systems and cultural practices as part of broader heritage preservation efforts.
