Most Naga persons see writing as mere hobby, but never a serious job. This is a jam for Naga writers, reports our Correspondent Alice Yhoshu
Kohima, April 28
To promote Naga writers, Naga literature, and encourage the culture of reading, a four day-long book event called ‘The Bookworm Fest’, a collaboration between Barkweaver Publications and de Oriental Grande, got underway on Saturday in Kohima at the local ground.
A wide assortment of books authored by Naga writers, books on Naga history as well as Christian literature, international bestsellers and children’s books are available at the fair. The event also includes multiple activities such as interactions, photo session; book signing with local authors, poetry reading, storytelling, and for children, a memory verse (Psalm 91) and drawing competitions.
The events are designed to encourage the young to participate and make learning fun while inspiring the habit of reading. Adding color to the literary activities, there is a food court, stalls selling homemade goodies, gift items, and handmade trinkets etc.
The first day of the event saw visitors, both young and old, some curiously browsing through the stalls, some buying books while some interacted with writers over a cup of tea.
Talking to reporters, renowned Naga writer and co-partner of Barkweaver Publications, Easterine Kire said that Bookworm Fest was inspired by the concept of a book-shack events which she experienced recently in Bhubaneshwar. A group of people (book lovers) got together to carry out their dreams of taking books to the people, promoting writers and literature then, she said.
She felt that the greatest challenge for writers in Nagaland was that the people fail to see writing as a job. They rather see it as a hobby, she said, which leaves Naga writers struggling to create spaces for themselves.
“When you tell people that you are a writer, they always ask ‘but what else do you do?’” she says. Also stating that there was much unpaid work owing to social obligations, Kire said it was sad that most people still do not appreciate the energy that a writer uses in writing.
As a co-partner of a publishing house, she divulged that there was not much earning in writing in the state; they are in it for the love of books.
About the book fair, she said, “We have many bookstalls but most of them sell only textbooks. We want to reach out to our people through these efforts to revive the reading culture.” Kire said that the fair was an effort to promote young Naga writers and Naga literature.
“Given the lack of a thriving environment for literature in the state, the fest is very exciting for me as a booklover,” says Vishü Rita Krocha, a Kohima-based journalist and a writer. She sees the event as a great step toward building a much-needed connection between writers and readers; a good platform for both publishers and aspiring writers to share their work.
“The initiative to promote reading is laudable, and since book fests rarely happen here, it was a good experience all in all. I’m looking forward to more such events,” said Mulungsenla Jamir, a young visitor who described himself as an avid reader.
Another visitor, Neikuo Angami said it was disappointing that there were fewer takers at the book fair. “This only shows that our reading culture is dying down. I hope those who came today will spread the word about the heartening ambience here and draw more people to this one of its kind event that is happening in our town,” he said.
The response, according to the organizers, has been good, particularly at the storytelling session. “We even had two visitors from Singapore join us during the session,” one of them said.
Organizers have informed of sufficient space as they were granted the entire ground; people are invited to come and sell their products, not just books, just so they can be a part of the fair at a minimum cost of Rs.50 per day, which is to cover sanitation charges. All the stalls are selling their items at Rs.10 off.
Saturday’s highlight will be a poetry-reading session by aspiring poets. It is scheduled to be held from 4.30 pm-5.30 pm. On Sunday there will be a memory-verse and drawing competitions for different age groups from 3 pm.
The fair runs at the Kohima local ground from 11.30 am to 5.30 pm until May 2. If successful, the organizers said to make it a calendar event.
