This Is How We Disappear, a collection of poems by Dr Emisenla Jamir, a writer and educator from Kohima, Nagaland, was launched on Tuesday at Kohima College.
Published by PenThrill, the collection of poems offers vignettes of life through the lens of the poet.
As Dr Kevileno Sakhrie writes in the Foreword of the book: “the explorations in these poems are driven by pressing emotional concerns: death and grief, love and the costs of loving, the art we make and leave in our wake – and ultimately, perhaps the most pressing question of all: what memories will we leave behind?”
Mmhonlümo Kikon, MLA and Advisor, New and Renewable Energy, IT & C, Science and Technology graced the book launch as the Special Guest.
He praised the author on how she had confronted the issues of society through her poems and also on the mother-daughter relationship portrayed in the book.
Published by PenThrill, the collection of poems offers vignettes of life through the lens of the poet. (Credit: Kekhriezalie Keretsu)
While solving the challenges of our society, we should focus on promoting literacy and the reading culture within our society, Kikon said.
Pointing out that many poetry, fiction and non-fiction books are being published in recent times, he said there must also be a move towards exploring better marketing strategies so that such literary works can reach wider audiences.
Dr Kevileno Sakhrie, Literary Critic and former HOD of the English department at Kohima College, described the book as confessional poetry where the writer has been able to pen down her thoughts and emotions.
Emisenla Jamir has been a pioneer in women’s writing along with legendary women writers from the Naga community such as Easterine Kire and late Temsula Ao who have served as a voice for women, stated Dr Sakhrie.
Dr Kevileno Sakhrie described the book as confessional poetry.
She said in the past women were seldom asked for their opinions and ideas or even to discuss themselves but that is changing now that women writers are paving the way for writing because of compulsion – an urge to express themselves as women and validate their experience as women.
The educated women who write today are seeking liberation and breaking the normal norms and standards set by men, the literary critic said.
Dr Emisenla Jamir reading an excerpt from her collection of poems.
During her speech, Dr Emisenla Jamir presented an excerpt from This is How We Disappear.
This is how we disappear –
a lone boat on the sea,
a dot on the horizon –
drifting and drifting,
like the daydreams
of a washerwoman,
like the memories
of a sweeper,
gathering dust.
It’s all dust.
Thanking her publisher, Vishü Rita Krocha of PenThrill and Dr Kevileno Sakhrie, she concluded her speech with these words:
“If a line from this collection moves you, or makes you see the world in a different light, if it brings you some semblance of comfort, or if it disturbs you and makes you uncomfortable, then I think it will have been worth it.”
