Nagaland Governor calls for preservation of Naga indigenous knowledge

Nagaland Governor and Chairman of the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Nand Kishore Yadav, has called for the increased documentation, research, and transmission of Naga indigenous knowledge. Speaking at a book release event in Dimapur, Yadav emphasized that cultural heritage should be treated as a valuable knowledge resource for the future rather than just a legacy of the past.

The Governor highlighted that indigenous knowledge is not merely folklore but is developed through observation, experimentation, and adaptation. He noted that this includes expertise in agriculture, forest management, resource conservation, and craftsmanship.

During the event, two books were released: ‘Nagas: The Knowledge Practitioners’ by Dr. Alok Kumar Kanungo and Dr. Alino Sumi, and ‘Nagaland Textiles—Threads that Weave Stories’ by Padma Shri Sentila T. Yanger. Regarding the textile publication, Yadav described Naga shawls as a ‘visual language’ that communicates identity, social meaning, and community traditions through specific colors, patterns, and motifs.