Northeast India- Readings in Cultural Life

This book is an outcome of the national seminar on the theme Culture Paradigm-The pluralistic Northeast India: Appreciating the Diverse Culture of Northeast India. The papers published in this book identify the paradigm shift in culture which can be seen to be endangering some traditional values that are deeply entrenched in our society. These are the most invaluable parts of the cultural life of the people of northeast India that need to be researched, as we simply cannot afford to lose them. The book brings together the ideas and writings of specialists, including practitioners and academic experts of humanities, literature and social sciences. Their papers explored the cultures of northeast India and affirm cultures and their diversity. They also appreciate their uniqueness and preserve and enhance all that is good and noble in them.

Dr. Lanukumla Ao is an Professor and Head of the Department of History, Don Bosco College, Kohima, Nagaland. She obtained her Ph.D. availing Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) Junior Research Fellowship from the Department of History and Archaeology, Nagaland University. She is a life member of North East India History Association (NEIHA). She has edited a book Historical Development in Northeast India: Trends and Perspectives and has published several research papers. Her main areas of interest in research and teaching include environment history, ancient history, contemporary history and tribal studies.

Culture is the very foundation of any society. It is essential to understand that culture is all inclusive, all embracing and participatory by nature. It presupposes an engaged outlook, and plays a fundamentally strategic role in territorial development by seeking to integrate knowledge. The dynamics of cultural change is directly linked to concurrent social, religious and institutional transformations that evolve over time. The implications of such changes have inexplicable complexities in every fiber of society. The fast paced change that is taking place since the latter half of the millennia till present times due to exposure to the world at our fingertips is making culture change a moot point. There is a palpable change in the cultural sphere of northeast India today. The change is due to a number of factors such as rapid globalization, urbanization, modern education, demographic shifts, and impact of mass media. Combined stress of these factors in the contemporary world has made us forget our roots and face server identity crisis, as people are no longer bound by boundaries. Westernization, particularly, along with modernity has invaded the northeast Indian tribal oriented outlook.