Prof. Rosemary Dzuvichu with the faculty and students of St.
Joseph University following the gender dialogue in Chümoukedima on Tuesday.
DIMAPUR — The department of Political Science
at St. Joseph University, Chümoukedima, hosted a gender dialogue, themed
"Beyond tradition: gendering property rights and decision-making in urban
Naga society," with postgraduate students from Political Science,
Sociology, English, and Psychology and Counselling, as well as research
scholars and faculty.
According to an update from the university, the guest
speaker for the event was Prof. Rosemary Dzuvichu, Director of the Centre for
Peace and Gender Studies, Nagaland.
On the occasion, the resource person shared that Naga
society remains deeply patriarchal, especially in rural areas where traditions
continue to shape everyday life. She discussed the numerous socio-cultural
barriers that limit women's rights.
Despite these challenges, Prof. Dzuvichu highlighted stories
of women who have made significant strides in decision-making and property
inheritance. One key example was the 1992 resolution by the Angami People's
Organisation (APO), which allowed fathers to gift acquired land to their
daughters, ensuring that male relatives could not take it away. This resolution
also gave daughters the right to pass the land on to their daughters.
Prof. Dzuvichu stressed how important it is for women to own
land – not just for financial security but also for empowerment. She raised
concerns about the selective application of customary laws, which, she said,
often work against women.
Interestingly, she noted that men have become some of the
strongest supporters of a 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies,
reflecting a shift in societal attitudes. However, she cautioned that
deep-rooted barriers still exist and called for collective efforts to push for
gender-equitable reforms while respecting Naga traditions.
The event coordinator and discussant, Dr. Mawon, touched on
the concept of gender – both binary and non-binary perspectives. Based on his
data collection, many Naga women in urban areas are now the legal owners of
houses and properties. This raises an important question: who will inherit
these properties – sons, daughters, or both? In response, the resource person
suggested that it is crucial to encourage these women to pass their property
down to their daughters, helping to secure women's rights to land for future
generations.
Also, the Research Forum, department of English, St. Joseph
University, organised a lecture on "Research Publication and Ethics"
on March 10, with Dr. Rukulu Kezo, founder and chief instructor, CUE Academy,
Centre for Person-Centred Education, and assistant professor, Capital College
of Higher Education, Kohima, as the resource person.
