New Delhi, May 17 (MExN): The Naga Scholar Association (NSA) hosted a book release cum discussion on ‘A Girl Swallowed by a Tree: Lotha Naga Tales Retold’ by Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton on May 12 at School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.
Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, NSA President, welcomed the audience with an epigrammatic comment that the book ‘Lotha Naga Tales Retold’ reflects once cherished and pristine Nagas’ way of life and fosters a greater sense of appreciation and encourages imagination of “our” distant past, informed a press release from the Association.
Dr. Veio Pou from Department of English, Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi, who chaired the book launch, said Nagas should engage in discussion, dialogue, and talk on folklore and other aspects of oral tradition to help recognize and value the importance of their tradition and culture. The stories are not just to tell and retell for amusement and entertainment but mirror the way of life of the Naga people, he stated.
The author of the book, Nzanmongi, Assistant Professor at Gargi College, University of Delhi, recounted her craving in bringing the sundry collection of Lotha Naga stories, and said the narratives are not hers but community’s stories. The tiny stories in Lotha Naga Tales Retold, she said, are not just mere stories but a history, culture, identity and origin of the Lotha Nagas. Her challenge in the book lies in bringing diverse collection of narratives, thereby projecting multiplicity of wide-ranging Naga narrations.
The audience participated in a discussion on Naga oral tradition and its various aspects, the importance and functions of oral narratives, and various other aspects of oral literature in perspectives.
The launching of the book, the release said, has encouraged the young Naga scholars to think and stimulated a sense of belongingness, oneness and appreciation of their past history. The discussion also challenged the Naga scholars to connect, engage and write the untold stories of “our” past history before they become extinct, it added.
The long discourse ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Lungthuiyang Riamei, Joint Secretary, NSA.
