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Left to right: Renthűngo Kikon, Shűrhozelie Liezietsu, Ezamo Murry and T Kikon with his wife Athel at the launch of 'Beyond the Banyan Tree' on Friday in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 25 (EMN): “It took me several years to write my autobiography because I had to refer to my diaries dating back to the late 1940s and this book is a piece of me where I have related events and situations as it happened then,” said T Kikon.
Kikon, an Interim Body Member, launched his autobiography ‘Beyond the Banyan Tree’ on Friday at de Oriental Grand Hotel in Kohima. The book talks about the protagonist who ‘steps out beyond the familiar village life to a new world opening up for the Nagas’.
Kikon said that he was born before WW II, and was a little boy when the war happened. “It seems like a long time ago, and indeed so, but it was a real pleasure growing up during those years when Nagaland had not even come into existence as a whole.”
He commented his life has been a long series of ups and down and have seen so many political storms in life, which he has tried to recount to the best of his ability in the book. “During the early years prior to statehood, I along with friends escaped so many ambushes,” Kikon said. He also served under P Shilu Ao, Hokishe Sema and JB Jasokie—all former chief ministers of Nagaland—as cabinet minister.
“Throughout my political career I have been very firm and resolute on solution to the protracted Naga political issue and in this regard I remained in regional political party,” he remarked.
According to Kikon, the book is not about self-adulation or an exercise in bragging about things accomplished. He was concerned that some tangible record must be kept for posterity and therefore he took up the task of writing the autobiography and said, “If we, as educated elders do not leave any records behind, then I would be failing completely.”
‘Fear Naga languages might go extinct’
‘We talk about tradition today but we compete for reputation and give less importance to our own culture which is a weakness in society’, said Shürhozelie Liezietsu, the NPF president, who spoke during the book launch.
‘We have our own languages but one of my fears is that someday the Naga languages may become extinct,’ he shared.
He added that all the indigenous people have been facing this threat even in India; and out of 400 languages, some have already become extinct and some on the verge of extinction.
According to him, there are more than 100 languages with only few speakers now and ‘after those old people are gone, the language will go extinct which will be a very sad thing’.
“For us, we have not reach that stage of danger at the moment but it is time for us to make a start on how to revive and preserve our culture and languages,” Liezietsu said.
‘If we put our heads together and contribute little towards development of our language, we can make a good progress,’ he suggested.
The veteran politician stated, “Among the Nagas, we talk about the traditions practiced by forefathers and virtues and courtesy are taken above of all else; but it is unfortunate that this is slowly disappearing among our young people.”
“Sometimes I wonder how people do not take interest to preserve our identity because among all our identities, language is the most important,” he commented.
Acknowledging Kikon, he also said that his books will remain a historical record for the Naga as a whole and said his biggest achievement to him is “his contribution to the Lotha literature as well as to the Naga people”.
“Kikon has contributed a lot, his books will remain as footprints in the history of the Naga people, and all his achievements will be a milestone of our people,” he added.