Lumami: Nagaland University, the State’s only Central University, has launched a landmark initiative to develop written grammars for the 18 recognised Naga languages, in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education, Government of Nagaland.
The project aims to provide structured grammatical resources for school textbooks from Class 5 to Class 12, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises mother-tongue education and multilingual learning. While Naga languages have been taught in schools for decades, none have had dedicated grammars for systematic teaching. This initiative seeks to fill that gap by documenting parts of speech, tense and aspect, phrase and clause structures, tone, vocabulary, and orthography.
Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, described the project as “a historic initiative that goes beyond academics to preserve and promote the linguistic heritage of our people. It reflects the NEP 2020 vision of education in the mother tongue and safeguards India’s rich linguistic diversity.”
The project is led by Dr. Mimi Kevichüsa Ezung, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Tenyidie, who highlighted the importance of grammar in standardising Naga languages. “Developing pedagogical grammars ensures consistency in writing and speech, instills pride in mother tongues, and helps preserve identity, culture, and indigenous knowledge,” she said.
The initiative is collaborative, involving Language Literature Boards, the State Centre of Naga Languages (SCNL), the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), and the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). Technical workshops at Nagaland University’s Department of Tenyidie are equipping language officers with tools to document grammar systematically.
Stakeholders have welcomed the effort. Mr. Kaitunchap Newmai of the Liangmai Literature Board called it “a vital step towards safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring our languages thrive for future generations.” Ms. Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of School Education, said the workshops “provide clarity in teaching grammar from an early stage, building a strong foundation for students.”
The 18 languages covered include Ao, Chang, Chokri, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Khezha, Liangmai, Lotha, Southern and Northern Rengma, Phom, Pochury, Sangtam, Sümi, Tenyidie, Yimkhiung, and Zeme. Currently, only a few—such as Tenyidie, Ao, Lotha, and Sümi—are taught beyond Class 8. The grammar initiative lays the groundwork for expanding higher-level education in other Naga languages.
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