Department of Women Resource Development organises ‘Her Stories’ in Kohima

KOHIMA — The Department of Women Resource Development organised a programme titled “Her Stories: Celebrating Women Narratives” at its directorate in Kohima on Saturday.

The event engaged women authors and writers from the state to dwell on the importance of women's narratives.

Director of Women Resource Development, Vilone Sakhrie, addressed the programme and noted that women play an active yet silent role in the growth of society, adding that their contributions and activities often go unnoticed.

While women have made achievements in various sectors, Sakhrie stated that writing remains one of the “most ignored” sectors, particularly in this rapidly developing world of technology, artificial intelligence, and the internet. He lamented that the written books he grew up reading are being lost today.

Also read: State government invites recommendations for Governor’s Gold Medal

“Sadly, even the state is failing to provide enough support to our writers, our very own local women writers,” he said.

Taking into consideration the insufficient support for women writers, the department decided to provide a platform for local authors and writers by organising the event. Themed ‘Her Stories’, he stated that the writings of women are not just from the experiences of the authors but are the voice of all women.

He also highlighted the need to revive the habit of actual reading, which is getting lost. He noted that in Kohima and across the state, there are only a couple of bookstores, and the literature sector is in a “very pathetic situation” at the moment. The official suggested onboarding information technology and making books available online.

A conversation on “Women, words and the world” with a focus on the Nagaland context was moderated by Vizovono Elizabeth, an independent researcher and freelance editor, with two prominent authors from the state, Avinuo Kire and Vishü Rita Krocha.

Elizabeth noted that in Nagaland, it is fortunate that at least in literature, women are at the forefront, and stories or narratives written by women deserve to be celebrated. However, she observed that there are very few spaces for the celebration of women's voices and narratives, as literature is still a neglected area.

Krocha underscored that women's narratives can bring a change in society with their writings on often ignored issues and uncomfortable subjects like mental health, domestic violence, and broken marriages that have opened the eyes of readers.

She added that women writers talking about such issues deserve support and should be read by more people so that it can bring change in society.

Avinuo Kire noted that while men's narratives are important, it is incomplete without the perspective of half the population, adding that it is women's narratives that bring out the real human picture in society.

Kire said she has felt quite misunderstood as a novel writer, especially on platforms outside the Northeast region. Often on these platforms, she was asked about the community, while other writers, who are also fiction writers like herself, would be asked about their inspiration and what drives them to write. She stated that she often finds the experience frustrating and feels misunderstood.

"Even though a lot of my stories are delving into the Naga experiences. I don't claim to be an authority on Naga stories," she said.

Sentinaro, assistant professor, Department of English, Baptist College Kohima, said women's writings are voices through which a safe space is created for dialogue as they pen down their thoughts. She added that works by women deserve a place on the shelf of each home.

Readings from the ‘Homegrown Anthology of New Writings from Nagaland’ were presented by various authors and poets. The programme was held as part of the ongoing Hornbill Festival in Nagaland.