Stella Higher Secondary School Kohima celebrates World Book Day with a two-day fair to promote reading and local authors.
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KOHIMA — Stella Higher Secondary School (SHSS), Kohima marked ‘World Book Day’ on Thursday by organising a two-day book fair that will culminate on April 24.
Organised in collaboration with The White Owl, the event intends to promote and encourage students to cultivate the habit of reading.
Administrator Thejavino Moa noted that at Stella, they celebrate World Book Day every year to encourage reading.
This is the seventh year that the school is organising a book report on selected local authors in order to promote reading among students.
This year’s book report focused on ‘Giants’ authored by Huthuka Sumi. Previously, students did book report on notable authors from Nagaland including, Vishü Rita Krocha, Avinuo Kire, Easterine Kire, and Abokali Jimomi.
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“When we started this book report, we thought the best way to introduce books to our students and then we have some of the best authors (from Nagaland). Why not encourage (the local authors) and appreciate own literature first, then we will go out. That's what we decided when we started this book report,” she said.
The World Book Day was initiated by the UNESCO to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The theme for this year is "Go all in” to encourage readers to fully engage with reading and connect to personal interests, Moa noted.
In his address, author and photographer Hutukha Sema, encouraged the students to find their voice with honesty and integrity and urged them to do so without bitterness and anger. A good place to start finding one’s voice is by reading, he said.
Speaking from his own experience, he said a person cannot find the voice until they beat their fear, anger and insecurities.
If one is speaking constantly from a position of anger of doubt and of fear, the real voice will never make it out, he remarked.
Hutukha stated that as students, it is a wonderful time for them to find out exactly who they are so that they can go out to the real world with confidence and without self doubt of who they are.
He also said the impact of reading is qualitative and not quantitative. One may not earn a certificate for reading but the qualities of a person who reads will stand out.
He further stated that people are getting increasingly richer but are also becoming increasingly unhappy. This is because without love, the world becomes bankrupt of hope. He said that books teach a person to love because a reader is tolerant, kind and has empathy.
“The more we read. The more we allow ourselves to understand other people”, he added.
A poetry and short story writing competition was held for the first time as part of the book fair, where students took active part.
Inguka (junior category) and Supon (senior category) emerged as the winners for their hopeful message and unconventional approach.