The discussion about choosing tradition over modernity or vice versa often ends inconclusive. A harmonious blend of both is what Chophitoli Sumi shares in her article as she examines it in the light of our Naga culture and heritage. Both tradition and modernity play a dominant role in strongly shaping the identity of what it means to be a Naga. There is a lot that the younger generation must listen to and learn from the Naga elders. Simultaneously, in this rapidly developing and transformative world, there is a lot more that the younger generation can contribute to society by sharing and communicating more closely with the older generation.
The Traditional or the Modern Naga?
What are traditional values? According to me, traditional values can be understood in some simple terms, such as your responsibility to your family, your spouse, your parents, your children, and your society. It is your knowledge and your work. The mode of the job changing does not need to change your values.
Traditions are not bad, but they need to evolve constantly. By this very nature, traditions are supposed to evolve constantly and meet the changing requirements of time and social contexts.
To cite an example, the way or mode of explaining to the older generation and the younger generation could be different. Due to generation gaps, there could be different levels and modes of understanding the matter, even with the whole motive being the same.
Traditions, if handled judiciously, can be great assets for society. They connect our past with our present and the future. People without roots in the past cannot have a creative sense of their future. I take the following quotation of Mahatma Gandhi as my guiding light in this matter: ‘’It is good to swim in the waters of tradition but to sink in them is suicide.’’
Take our tradition of taking care of our parents in their old age or the food habits of our grandparents that were so much healthier. I am sure most would agree that these are worth preserving. Today, if parents are abandoned by children in old age homes, which is happening not only in our country but worldwide every now and then, I would consider it a great civilization tragedy because our tradition is to serve our parents.
BALANCING THE MODERN AND TRADITION:
It’s important to understand that everything in the name of modernization is not good. Traditions are not set in stone. By this very nature, they are supposed to evolve constantly and meet the changing requirements of time, the present generation, the present lifestyle and social contexts.
At the same time, I believe, elders also have a responsibility not to be tyrannical; to give space to youthful ideas and creative energy, including freedom to make mistakes.
The downside is that in modern times, high morals, values, and ethics seem to have reduced drastically. The worst affected of the lot is the younger generation. Many seem to have forgotten the rich cultural values such as respect for others, tolerance, and self-control. This has resulted in a generation gap.
BASIC WAYS TO FIX THE GENERATION GAP PROBLEM
We all think of kids to be soft clay, and by the time they grow up, the society in which they stay largely constitutes this upbringing. The rest of their development is determined by the norms that they all live by. Probably, the lack of communication between the two generations is the major cause for this clash. This has pushed the two generations further away from each other.
Then you will find that the people belonging to the older generation always wonder what has gone wrong with the new generation. They feel that during their time, young boys and girls were better behaved, more obedient and had greater respect for elders. Young people, on the other hand, feel that they are capable enough to learn on their own rather than lean heavily on the older generation for any guidance.
The argument isn’t to justify who is right or wrong but to rather understand the motive and the outcome. To get the best positive results, I feel it has to start with both generations coming together and having conversations and communicating about new concepts the younger generation has to offer. At the same time, the modern or the younger generation must put in greater effort in listening to the elders, regardless of their age; as no matter what the circumstances may be, being older than us, they have experienced much more in life and their mistakes can be our lessons. This could lead to a better conclusion, allowing society to reset and create a win-win situation for both sides.
I would like to conclude these thoughts with a valuable quote by Winston Churchill:
“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, Indeed it as strengthened nations in this hour of peril”
In some ways, traditional culture and modern culture are alike. Any culture is a system of learned and shared meanings. People learn and share things over the course of generations, and so we say they are a culture. Traditional and modern culture function similarly because both are ways of thinking, ways of relating to people and to the universe. We can play a huge role in bringing the traditional values and modern mindset together by giving efforts from both sides. Both generations play this role.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Aienla A, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren Lemtur and Kvulo Lorin.
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