White Owl Book Fair underway in Kohima

(From left to right) T Keditsu, Dzüvinuo Theünuo, and Venüzo Dawhuo during the launch of the book ‘Wrestling Day’ in Kohima on Wednesday.

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• On Wednesday, as part of The White Owl Book Fair, a children's book titled ‘Wrestling Day’, authored by Theyiesinuo Keditsu, was launched by Dzüvinuo Theünuo, Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Nagaland, and Venüzo Dawhuo, Naga Wrestling Champion 2025.
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• The book is illustrated by Rishita Loitongbam and published by Duckbill Books.
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• 'Wrestling Day' tells the story of Aneingu, who is preparing to wrestle for the first time, and his friend, Areiu, who is determined to ensure that nothing goes wrong for him. Set in Nagaland, the narrative offers a modern take on the traditional sport of wrestling.
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• The author, Keditsu, shared that she wrote the book for two reasons: firstly, because Naga wrestling is at risk of slipping away, and secondly, to pay tribute to her neighbourhood, Chotobosti, and the northern side of Kohima town.
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• She also dedicated the book to her grandfather, Neingulie, a man she never knew but whose charisma as a teacher and advocate of youth she has heard about from many of his pupils.
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• She expressed that the book was not intended as a record of a sport but as a small act of cultural insistence. She added that the book is an invitation to imagine a future in which children would not have to choose between knowledge and tradition or between books and wrestling grounds.
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• Theünuo, in her speech, appreciated the author for the children’s book, citing that the illustrations had been done beautifully. She expressed that writing a children’s book is not an easy task due to the ambivalent nature of addressing the text to both adults and children.
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• Kezhalelie Keretsü, managing director of Bout Lords, Nagaland, and also a former Naga wrestling champion, speaking during the book launch, narrated that he made his debut in professional Naga wrestling in 1996 and won 4th position in the NWA when he was 19 years old.
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• He recalled that he never thought he would one day become a champion wrestler and earn a name for himself, but it was his sheer passion and love for the game that had propelled him into the wrestling arena.
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• He shared that at the peak of his career, he had won every known championship trophy at least once, but the most coveted NWA championship trophy came to him late. He won it in 2012, when he was 36 years old, and he described that year as his "calendar year," as he had won every championship, from the village level to the NWA.
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• He stated that despite all his achievements, one thing that always troubled him when reminiscing about those days was the discrimination against women, especially in wrestling. He recalled how a perimeter had been drawn, forbidding women from even going near the wrestling arena.
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• Keretsü stated that with the passage of time, Naga wrestling had evolved tremendously, citing that the rules and regulations had been framed repeatedly to make the sport more convenient and acceptable to all. He mentioned that almost all the taboos against women had now been withdrawn, but still, they shy away, as these restrictions had bound them for too long.
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• Further, he stated that with the continuous effort and perseverance of various leaders during their respective tenures, Naga wrestling is now on the verge of being recognised by the highest governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling. He cited that this recognition would elevate Naga wrestling to an international event and, eventually, lead it to the Olympics.
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• In the past, Naga wrestling was valued and revered not just as a game but as a means of resolving disputes, as it was used to settle scores between villages, thereby avoiding bloodshed, he noted.

The author alongside guests and others during the launch of the book ‘Wrestling Day’ in Kohima on Wednesday. (EM Images)

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• He said that personally, in his years as a wrestler, he had earned a name for himself, his father, his clan, and his village, but his mother, wife, and sisters, who sacrificed their own needs to take care of his every requirement, were never appreciated. He added that he would never forget their care and efforts in making him who he is today.
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• Further, he encouraged the readers of ‘Wrestling Day’ to approach the book with the mindset that for society to progress and prosper, due recognition should be given to all, irrespective of gender.