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Temjen Toy (center right) releases the new book as its author Tiala Imchen (right) looks on.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, March 14: The chief secretary of Nagaland, Temjen Toy, released a book titled ‘Ao pioneers takü otsü’ (Ao for ‘biography of the Ao pioneers’), on Thu. March 14. The book, authored by Tiala Imchen, was released at the Dimapur Ao Baptist Church’s office building, in Dimapur.
Written in the Ao dialect, the book is about 25 pioneers from the Ao community. Out of which, four of them are alive. They are Rev. Dr. Noksangchila, said to be the first ordained female minister from Northeast India; Rev. Dr. T Alemmeren, said to be the first missionary to China from Nagaland; Dr SC Jamir, the first central minister from Nagaland; and US-based Dr. Senka Yaden, said to be associated with space science.
Delivering a speech during the event, Imchen said that the book was her 6th publication. She started her research on Nov. 21 2017. It took about 14 months to complete, the gathering was told.
The book was completed on Jan. 2019.
“I spend day and night collecting information from different family members of the pioneers located in different location,” Imchen said.
After the completion of her 5th edition, Imchen said she was unaware about what to write about. However, she was encouraged by elderly citizens of different villages to write about the tribe’s former pioneers.
“The elders encouraged me with different topics. They insisted me to accumulate all the history of the pioneers so that the book will carry the legacy in the times to come,” she recalled.
Imchen said that the book contains humour, horror, and empathetic contents.
“There were times when I wept while writing. Also, there were times when I prayed and praised God in the middle as the stories about the pioneers were inspiring. I wrote the book as if I was in it,” she told the gathering.
Further, she said that the publication also contains the story about the American missionaries arriving at Impur in Mokokchung.
“The book covers the religious, political, socio-cultural, economic, and spiritual spheres of the society. It will make one realise that there are many things which we have yet to learn. I believe the readers will be humbled after reading it,” she said.
Speaking as the special guest during the event, Temjen Toy lauded the author for the efforts and sacrifice she dedicated to writing and completing the book.
Indicating that there were not much books in Ao dialect ten years in the past, Toy was positive that there are plenty available in the present. “I am happy to learn that there are now many books which are available in Ao dialect. It shows that we are growing towards a tolerant and civilized society,” he said.
Mentioning that the current youth might not be aware of some of the pioneers from Ao community, Toy believed that the book will make them identify the leaders. He encouraged the people to remember the former pioneers who have rendered their services to the society.
Toy suggested to the youths to keep an objective about why Aos are termed ‘pioneers’ when reading the book.