The Nagaland Literature Festival 2024 organized by Writers Collective Kohima was today observed at Capital Cultural Hall Complex Kohima under the theme ‘Amplifying Our Indigenous Voices’.
President of Ura Academy & Former Chief Minister of Nagaland, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu who was the Special Guest in his inaugural address said that education has reached our people very late which was through the first American Baptist Missionary, Rev. Clark in 1872 and the first formal School founded by his lady wife, Mary Mead Clark in 1878 spread Education in the Naga inhabited areas but the journey of our people in attaining education was very slow due to various reasons.
He also shared past instances where our people faced serious challenges and disadvantages in the field of literature by highlighting that during the Japanese invasion in World War-II, Kohima being reduced to ashes had completely destroyed the little literature confined to mission centres and again during the Indo-Naga War in the fifties, the few literatures that people possessed once again being destroyed. But Dr. Liezietsu pointed out that however slow the spread of education might be, whatever disadvantages we might have faced in the past, the progress made by the younger Naga generation is really laudable, as they made rapid stride in learning to catch up with the modern world.
Emphasizing on the theme “Amplifying Our Indigenous Voices”, he encouraged all to amplify our voices through writing of books on prose, poems, narratives, epic, dramatic, etc. as Literature is a form of human expression that reflects the intention of the author and also explore ways to promote various Naga voices, provide a platform to our writers, poets, artists and storytellers to share their works and experiences, preservation and promotion of Naga languages and stories, Dr. Liezietsu added that Naga writing and literature are at a very crucial and exciting juncture as we are in the process of learning to reclaim our narrative and find out authentic voices.
SDO (C) Kohima, Abeinuo Jasmine Ashao, who spoke on ‘The Indigenous Women’s Voice: A Perspective’ highlighted about the Naga women sharing the same rights as men and enjoy better position than that of other societies and communities, with no distinction between men and women in our Naga society. She highlighted about Naga female performance and achievement in academics, career and in different sectors socially and economically and also having female representative to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and ULBs.
During the inaugural function, the opening remarks was delivered by Vishu Rita Krocha, of Writer Collective and chaired by Kevilenuo Miachieo. Special performance was also presented by Mhasheseno Hibo. The festival was attended by mostly young people from different colleges.
