The resource persons with participants of the Lecture Series-3 on March 1.
KOHIMA, MARCH 2 (MExN): The Department of English at Baptist College hosted the third installment of its Lecture Series on Friday, focusing on "Dramaturgy and the Nuance of Cultural Representation," with author, researcher, and educator Dr. Inakali Assumi as the resource person.
The program, chaired by Assistant Professor Ghunato Neho, opened with a prayer by Assistant Professor Loly Chophi. Dr. Tsenbeni, Head of the English Department, delivered a brief introduction to the event.
Dr. Assumi’s lecture examined how colonization has reshaped cultural identity, replacing indigenous traditions with Western influences—a shift she said persists today, with younger generations showing waning interest in Naga authors and artists. She emphasized that much of Naga history has been written from an outsider’s perspective, shaping representations that often do not reflect the community’s self-perception.
“Self-representation is crucial to undo the assumed identity imposed upon us,” Dr. Assumi stated, arguing that literature serves as a powerful medium for this reclamation. While Naga literature has limited engagement with drama, she highlighted the genre’s potential in capturing cultural complexities through dialogue and performance.
Citing her recently published play, The Arrival of Rice Mill in Our Village, she illustrated how drama can depict cultural identity and conflict through character voices, costumes, and settings, creating a realistic portrayal of historical and social shifts. She acknowledged the linguistic challenges of writing drama in indigenous dialects but expressed hope for its growth, emphasizing the need for an audience to support and strengthen Naga literature.
The lecture concluded with an interactive session, engaging attendees in discussions on cultural documentation and the evolving literary landscape.
