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Kaisa Rio with Theyiesinuo Keditsu, right; and Juliana Medom, left, during the release of a collection of poems, in Kohima on Wed. Nov. 7.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 7 (EMN): A collection of poems titled ‘Sopfünuo’ written by an assistant professor of Kohima College in Kohima was released by Kaisa Rio, wife of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, at the Crossword Book Store, on Wed., Nov. 7.
The author, Theyiesinuo Keditsu, seeks to give voice to the private experiences of women who are suffering and have no way to defend themselves or speak up. The backdrop of the book is the narrative of suffering women in the Naga community.
Rio congratulated the author on her maiden venture, and expressed optimism that both men and women would be inspired by the book to recognise the role and position of women. She hoped that the author will write more books in the future.
Speaking during the occasion, Keditsu said her collection was a ‘small drop of resistance’ with the hope that readers may be moved and become just a little more open to working towards a system where no person is belittled, disenfranchised, abused or threatened based on gender.
Taking into account violence against women in the Naga society, she said, “Patriarchy is an inherently oppressive and unjust system,” which demands unreasonable standards from its men, defining masculinity in terms of dominance over women and placing primary power in the hands of men. Failure to conform or meet these standards can be incredibly harsh, even life-threatening, she said.
Keditsu noted with regret that people do not realise that a simple act of silencing a woman belongs to the same spectrum of violence as marital rape. People as a whole choose to comfort themselves by denying that ‘gender based violence’ is widespread, and that only certain women or classes suffer atrocities when actually most suffer and tolerate them.
The author has called for change; it can happen without the violence of revolution or the bombastic drama of bra-burning.
Citing real life stories of atrocities against women, Juliana Medom, an assistant state coordinator for the State Resource Centre for Women pointed out that in contrary to what many Nagas think that domestic violence doesn’t exist in homes, there are many incidences that are happening right under the nose. She appreciated the systems that are being put in place to address the concerns of women, she nonetheless expressed doubts over how far the system was providing the protection women need. She pointed to the absence of a full circle support system for women.
“We are in a difficult position today where the very act of love can be a torture for many” Medom said. She has congratulated the author for the endeavour to give voice to the voiceless.
