Growing number of Naga teenagers want to join Indian Army ::: Temple debate kept Nagaland away from 'watershed issue'

 Temple debate kept Nagaland away from a key watershed issue

Growing number of Naga teenagers want to join Army

New Delhi

Move over from the Temple debate and the politics associated with it. The ASER 2023 report, released by the NGO Pratham Foundation, focused on the youth of the age group 14-18 years. The report claims 'Nagaland' feedback was also incorporated but the findings have not been debated with the seriousness it required.

Police and Indian Army are two major 'popular choices' as career options for youngsters.

When it comes to joining the Indian Army/Military, Nagaland figures among the top three states along with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 

The findings claim -- 30.5 per cent male of those surveyed preferred the Army as a career option. Himachal Pradesh recorded -- 42.3 while Uttarakhand showed 37.9 boys preferring the Army job.

In Nagaland, female young careerists percent preferring Army jobs was 4.4 percent while in Himachal and Uttarakhand the same figure stood at 6.8 and seven percent respectively.

'Nagaland Page'

There are two ways of looking at these data. First, surveys are non-sense and hence can be ignored like spam mails dropping in one's inbox. Secondly, the surveys tell us often a hidden story. In Nagaland context vis-a-vis Army as career option -- my debating issue is not political.

Nowhere possibly this survey tries to say that the Naga underground movement has suffered a setbackor so on. That debate about Naga insurgency and political issue should be left to Naga peace negotiators and the Nagaland government, political parties, NGOs and the central government.

My issue of raising the matter is societal. Just look around -- what the children are thinking. This will lead us to ask the next question -- Why?

If one sits back and tries to answer the simple question; one is led to put forward a few related questions too. One of them is --Is it only for job stability ?

In April 2023 I traveled to Oting village in Mon district. The Konyak driver, I interacted while crossing Assam surprised me when he said, "Sir, ek ta katha kobo dey....Why did not you join Army?"
 
Taken aback, I asked, :"Why this question to me...I am a short (height) man and more importantly, I enjoy writing for newspapers".

His response was more interesting. "I think Sir, Army is the best job for a Naga today. Indian Air Force will be particularly very good to fly above with those jets". Today, his remarks sound so relevant that one cannot help pouring those out in this piece. 

Interestingly, he also said: "Jobs in army and police help get bank loans easily...My cousin got a loan and purchased a house in Dimapur and also a vehicle".

So, those factors are also driving youths to love jobs that gave camouflage uniforms. After the Survey report came, I sat with a retired army officer, who served in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

His analysis is also worth sharing: "Army and Assam Rifles were always seen as oppressors. There is a politics of 'quoting history' in northeast by unscrupulous elements. Those who keep quoting history present a negative image of army and police forces. That should change".

I countered, '"If these latest surveys are to be believed, is it not changing already?"

He did not argue much. One Naga politician, name kept withheld on request, actually answered the query more eloquently.

"I am agreeing there is a shift....I was expecting this shift because industries and corporate houses have not come up. But this shift in stance by youngsters can’t be seen as job stability factor alone".

He further said, "Even forces have changed over the decades...Thus, there is a change of heart due to a professional conduct and humane approach of Army. I have seen many things from a close range. This transition is welcome".

"Don't want to work" ::

The national figures also said as high as 21 percent of those surveyed
between the age group of 14 and 18 said, "Either -- Don't know and Have not
thought about it'.

Interestingly, in the category of choice 'Don't want to work' -- there were 2.1 per cent all-India figures.

When this data was discussed, a Naga social worker commented: "In Nagaland 'Don't Want to Work' category will be much higher than the national average".

Interesting yet again, Boys use smartphones twice as much as girls (38% vs 19%) for booking tickets.They step out of their houses more and the patriarchal mindset in rural areas deters girls from taking independent action. More females aspire to continue a higher level of education than their male counterparts.

For girls in rural India, teachers are the role models.

ends