Zunheboto (Nagaland), September 1, 2025: The Nagaland University has launched an ambitious project to develop written grammars for each of the 18 recognised Naga languages, in collaboration with the State Directorate of School Education.

According to a statement from the university’s Lumami campus in Zunheboto district, the project aims to create structured pedagogical grammars for inclusion in school textbooks from Classes 5 to 12, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

While Naga languages have been taught in schools for decades, none have had a dedicated written grammar. The project seeks to fill this gap by documenting core grammatical elements such as parts of speech, tense, aspect, tone, phrase and clause structures, and by refining vocabulary and orthography where needed.

The grammars will be integrated into textbooks alongside prose, poetry, and translation materials, under the supervision of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). Teacher training programmes and refresher courses will be conducted to support smooth classroom implementation.

The initiative is led by Dr. Mimi Kevichüsa Ezung, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Tenyidie. “Developing pedagogical grammars ensures consistency in writing and speech, while instilling pride in one’s mother tongue,” Dr. Ezung said.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik described the effort as “a cultural mission to preserve and promote the linguistic heritage of the Naga people.”

The 18 languages covered are Ao, Chang, Chokri, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Kuzhale (Khezha), Liangmai, Lotha, Nthenyi (Southern Rengma), Nzonkhwe (Northern Rengma), Phom, Pochury, Sangtam, Sümi, Tenyidie (Angami), Yimkhiung, and Zeme.

Currently, only a few—such as Tenyidie, Ao, Lotha, and Sümi—are taught beyond Class 8, with Tenyidie available up to MA and PhD levels.