ICH Courier

The Ao Nagas are one of the major Naga ethnic groups residing primarily in The Mokokchung district of the state of Nagaland in India. They are renowned for their rich cultural heritage, distinctive traditions, and vibrant community life. The language spoken by the Aos belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. The Aos currently speak four languages, namely Jungli, Mongsen, Changki and Nokpo.

Another language called Sangpu which was earlier spoken by the Ao ancestors has become extinct.
The Language Translation Centre (LTC) was established on March 16, 2021 as a collaborative initiative of the Ao language speaking members of the English and Ao departments of Fazl Ali College. Even before the Centre was officially launched, members of the two departments had been working on translation projects according to the needs of the community.

Subsequently, the necessity of establishing a Translation Centre became pertinent when it was realized that unless such initiatives were taken up, the Ao language would not develop or progress.
Under the UNESCO map of endangered languages, the Ao language is also categorized as a vulnerable language that may face extinction if the community does not take certain measures to safeguard the language. Except for the common Ao language which is Jungli, the others — Mongsen, Changki and Nokpo languages have no written literature. When there is no written literature, the oral tradition of a community is lost since they are retained only in the memories of the community and passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. Therefore, the Language Translation Centre envisages the development the promotion of the other unwritten languages too as part of the initiative for promotion of the intangible cultural heritage of the Ao-Nagas.
Even today, many such oral traditions are getting lost with the demise of the storytellers, knowledge-bearers and performers who belong to the older generation. The advent of westernization and globalization has put a halt of many things that belonged to the ancestors and the younger generation is slowly losing track of the rich traditions of their ancestors.

Activities for the Promotion of Intangible Heritage

The LTC’s ICH promoting activities revolve around preservation, translation, education, digitization, and community engagement, ensuring that the Ao Naga culture remains vibrant and accessible across generations. One of the core promotional activities undertaken by the Centre is the collection and preservation of rare Ao literature in principle with the LTC motto of Retrieving Identities. LTC has gathered rare, out-of-print Ao books, many of which were published as early as the 1870s when American missionaries first introduced formal education to the region. These historic texts, some fragile and almost lost to time, have been carefully photocopied, archived, and converted into e-book formats. This ensures wider accessibility and protects them from physical degradation. These materials are housed in the Ao section of the Fazl Ali College library. There are also collections of Ao books which were obtained from the family members of deceased writers and kept in the Ao section of the FAC library. Besides this, the English and Ao departments also keep a continuous count of any books published in the Ao language and keep updating the library.
Another major focus of LTC’s promotion of ICH is the translation and adaptation of literary works. Recognizing the lack of dramatic and creative literature available in the Ao language, the Centre has embarked on ambitious translation projects. English plays and short stories are being translated into Ao to enrich the local literary canon. Some of the prominent works currently under translation include The Bishop’s Candlesticks (Sannūker Temo Milen), The Wedding Album (Kiyimba Noksasep), The Jungle Major (Arem Arūkhudong), The Night (Iba Aonung) and The Pilgrim’s Progress (Khristan Aeini Aoba).
A central aspect of the LTC’s work is the translation of important documents, especially between Ao and English. Language is an essential element of cultural identity, and the LTC recognizes that the survival of a language is directly tied to the preservation of the culture it represents. A key example of this is the support the LTC has provided to the Mokokchung Dobashi Court. As per Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution, Naga religion, social practices, and customary laws are protected from being legislated upon by the Indian Parliament without the consent of the state assembly. This provision ensures that the ICH of the Ao-Nagas, particularly their customary laws, is safeguarded. The LTC has played a crucial role in assisting the Mokokchung Dobashi Court by translating its customary laws into English, enabling non-Ao speakers to understand and engage with these important legal texts. Similarly, the LTC has supported the Ao Senden, the apex civil organization of the Ao tribe, in translating various documents related to Ao customary laws and practices. This includes questionnaires on Ao customary laws and documents discussing the Origin and Nomenclature of the Aos.
Another significant initiative is the LTC’s work with Watsü Mungdang, the apex Ao women’s organization. Watsü Mungdang’s publication Lenpir chronicles the organization’s efforts to uplift women in society.

Partnerships at the National and International Levels
The LTC has been actively building partnerships and participating in collaborations at both the national and international levels to promote and safeguard the Ao-Naga intangible cultural heritage. The LTC regularly organizes and participates in different knowledge forums. One-day international conference was organized in July 2024 focusing on the language, literature and oral tradition of the Ao-Nagas.
It provided a platform for scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners interested to explore and deepen their understanding of the intricate interplay between language, literature, and oral tradition. The conference highlighted the significance of language, literature, and oral tradition in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage across generations, particularly in the face of globalization and cultural homogenization.
LTC participated in an international exhibition and symposium titled “Living Heritage of Nagaland” at Kolkata and presented in a panel on “Lost and Found: Reclaiming Indigenous Languages” held at The Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
This event, supported by the German Consulate General Kolkata and the Asiatic Society Kolkata under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, provided LTC a platform to present the importance of indigenous language preservation on a global stage.