Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 16
“The new literature from some states of the northeast in general and particularly from Nagaland is not about existential angst per se, though it is to a great extent, about a sense of loss of the people’s culturala past and the attempt to recover the essence of the past.
They are therefore writing about themselves and their roots. If they are writing about identity, it is more in the nature of introspection rather than one of confrontation with the dominant ones.”
And if there are political innuendos in the work of some writers, they are more in the nature of interrogating themselves within the present context rather than as indictments against the powers that can be.”
Dr Temsula Ao, chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for women, was addressing the launching ceremony of a publication called the ‘Literary Cultures of India’s northeast: Naga writings in English.’ The publication was authored by KB Veio Pou in Kohima town on Wednesday, December 16.
However, she went to say that the most significant aspect of Naga writings lies in the fact that much of this literature has directly or indirectly derived much inspiration from our oral tradition which is replete with the resources of literature like poems, folk songs, long narratives, folk stories, and even elements of magic and fantasy.
These writings, Dr Temsula said reveal that our past heritage is still an integral part of our present reality, and that makes this literature relevant to our times in a very special way.
Therefore, she pressed on the need to nurture the new landscape of the mind being etched by writers in Nagaland and the region is the new space where the resistance against the obsessive forces of modernity inimical to our identity and culture.
Commenting on the newly launched book, Dr Temsula said this book on the Literary Cultures of India’s Northeast with emphasis on Naga writings in English by Veio Pou is one such space which must be read and given due credit by every right thinking Naga.
Introducing the book, proprietor of Heritage Publishing House, Dr Lanusangla Tzudir said the author has lucidly and beautifully captured the entire gamut of Naga writings in English taking us through a literary of our cultural traditions, realities, longings and aspirations giving shape to the paradigm of what can be put as the Naga life world.
This book, in posterity, serves as a rich tribute to the few women writers- the true Hornbills of Nagaland like Temsula Ao, Easterine Kire, Monalisa Changkija, Nini Lungalang and others who have through their writings provided windows to the world of Naga literature.
Congratulating the author, she said the author deserves special praise for comprehensively handling a myriad of themes on Naga literature in a very organized manner with academic precision.
‘Literary writings serves is an integral parameter for defining the mark of what it means to be a civilized society, and this book will definitely awaken the Naga consciousness to the realm of sensibilities towards academic value’ and as such she said this book in enriching the Naga writings will serve as a useful tool especially for students and academicians in furthering the work on Naga literature.
The author Veio Pou in a short speech remarked that many have long been in the oral mode of learning and knowing whereby people don’t even bother to read the newspapers that are around us ‘forget about the critical materials’. However, he observed that of late Naga writers have produced and that have been picked up and read by the people. He appreciated writers such as Dr Temsula Ao, Easterine Kire, Monalisa Changkija and Nini Lungalung who have begin to produce much before people could wake up to the sense on the importance of writing and reading.
Taking about his book, Pou said this work is something which was really important to him stating that ‘literature is a byproduct of the society what we live and see in the society’ and also it is so much about what these writers have spoken about.
He said his inspiration have been these Naga women writers who have taken literature as a mouthpiece and a tool to assert their rights and to voice against the ills of the society- ‘the patriarchal domains of Naga society that operates into every sphere of life’.
He appreciated these writers for creatively using writings to express their thoughts on all the issues of the society, and letting literature speaks for them.
He thank Heritage Publishing House Dr Asanba ad Dr Lanusangla Tzudir, Dr Temsula and all those who have rendered their support and cooperation towards the successful publishing and launching of the book.
The author, K.B. Veio Pou is a Poumai from Phuba village under Senapati district of Manipur. He did his master’s and doctorate from JNU College and presently teaching as an Assistant Professor in Shaheed Bhagat Singh, University of Delhi.
