Dr. Vizovono Elizabeth
Asst. Professor of English, Baptist College, Kohima
Avila’s Lover and Other Stories authored by Lhutu Keyho, and published by Barkweaver, is a collection of eight stories set in 21st century Nagaland. Some of the stories are set in the village, some in the town, and some reflect the transition from village to town. All the eight stories are distinct and deal with different themes. The common thread that binds them is the insightful portrayal of contemporary Naga society. The characters in the stories are all typically Naga. They are drawn from the lives of common, ordinary citizens. Their experiences are very relatable. It could very well be the story of any one of us, which makes the stories resonate well. We find that it is about the lives of ordinary people whose destinies are defined by the many forces of the social environment in which they live – be it the government, the underground forces, illegal taxation, illicit liaisons, or even mysterious supernatural incidences attributed to spirit presence in our midst.
The title story “Avila’s Lover” is about a brief love affair between young village girl called Avila and a young man from one of the Naga underground factions. It is a story that reflects youthful love, desire and loss. But more than that, it also presents the human face of insurgency. “The Warden” has a mysterious element, and is also striking from the narrative point of view as the narrator is a man who is already dead and buried. Stories like “The Man Who Switched off his Phone” and “The Envelope” illustrate the devious methods undertaken by seemingly harmless people, who get sucked into corrupt means for their own personal security and selfish benefit. The story “Menye” deals with the plight of a young girl who lands in an ‘irredeemable’ situation. “A Pair of Gulaams” is about a young man caught cheating at a game of cards, and who is ultimately blamed for the death of a man in the brawl that ensues. “The Labour Unionist” shows us what we are seeing and living everyday. Everyone who has ever stood at the Razhü Point bus stand to go to BOC will relate to the story. “The Interview” is appropriately placed last in the collection, as it is a tale with a twist in the end. What I appreciated most is the way in which the author has presented, with raw honesty, many of the social evils that plague our society. He has brought to the fore issues that we have become complacent about, or some which we pretend does not exist. There is the constant complaint about unemployment, undocumented migrants, deceit and dishonesty within the family, irresponsible parenting, immoral relationships, cheating, lying, and all kinds of corrupt practices which we have become so used to that we now accept it as a way of life. Keyho writes in an understated tone, without blatant condemnation, yet he effectively highlights and draws our attention to all the dirt we have conveniently swept under the carpet.
Though the settings of the stories are urban, modern and contemporary, the storytelling has a quality of quaintness. The language has a combination of old school formal prose and words or expressions in local vernacular which makes for an interesting narrative style. The author is an acute observer and there are many instances of descriptions which create vivid images such as “the tamul chewing, dirty looking, unshaven middle-aged man wearing no shirt over his dirt-stained vest.”
What makes this book stand out is that it presents to us the male narrative voice, as has been rightly pointed out on the book cover. This is something that is still lacking in the emerging Naga literary scene. So far, most of our writers in literature have been women, and so it is a refreshing and significant contribution to the emerging body of our literature. It also gives us a glimpse into the Naga male psyche. That these stories come from a writer who is young is also obvious. He deals with the things that the youth are concerned about – love and relationships, infidelity, greed, corruption, politics, government, unemployment, and parenting. None of the protagonists are heroic, or perfect. They all have weaknesses and make mistakes. They are very real and human. But there is also hardly any character in the stories with virtues worth emulating. This is also a reflection of our young people’s worldview. Therefore, this book ultimately represents the voice of the youth.
The book is priced Rs. 250/- and is available at Crossword, Western Book Depot, Little Niceties and Gutouch in Kohima; Modern Book Depot, Dimapur, Patkai Book cum Spots Centre, Chumukedima and online at www.ilandlo.com
