The book launch team seen here with authors A Sentiyula and Bendangsenla (2nd & 3rd from left) of ‘Studies in Contemporary Naga Writings’, published by Heritage Publishing House, in Dimapur on Saturday, January 12. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 13
The Heritage Publishing House launched its first volume of Heritage Critical Studies in the form of a book titled ‘Studies in Contemporary Naga Writings’ by A Sentiyula and Bendangsenla.
“It is a work of friendship and love,” said Dr. Lanusangla Tzudir, Publisher, Heritage Publishing House, at the launch of the book at the West City Conference Room in Dimapur on Saturday, January 12.
A Sentiyula is Assistant Professor at the Dimapur Government College and Bendangsenla is Assistant Professor at the Zunheboto Government College.
“This volume shows that we are evolving as a publishing house just like Naga writers are evolving,” observed Dr. Tzudir.
While the body of work produced by Nagas writing in English is robust, there is little by way of discourse on the nature and context of these works. The book attempts to fill this gap.
“As teachers of undergraduate students teaching, among other things, Naga writings in English, we found that there was a lack of reference materials for the texts that were prescribed in the syllabus,” said Sentiyula while speaking at the program on how the content for the book was developed by the two Assistant Professors who teach theory to students.
“We took the texts and interpreted them theoretically, and also showcased methods on how to critically analyze literary texts. We have tried to stand in the gap between theory and praxis, and between the reader and the text. In the process, we have also examined the recurring themes in contemporary Naga writings, which we believe are indicative of the social and cultural milieu we live in. We have also reviewed some new books which we enjoyed reading,” she explained.
Hoping that the book—and the eventual series—will find space in both public and private libraries, Bendangsenla acknowledged and thanked the body of work produced in English by Naga creative writers that made this book possible. The two authors wrote the essays reproduced in the book over years, with some already published in journals and some written couple of months ago.
“May your writer's muse never leave you; may you contribute to the growth of world class literature in our own land and beyond,” prayed Prof. Alongla P Aier, Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS), while releasing the book on Saturday. A dedicatory prayer was also offered by Rev. Dr. Ellen Konyak Jamir, Associate Professor at OTS. The program was chaired by Newtoli K Yeptho, Assistant Professor at Zunheboto Government College.
Critical study of literature
“The process of applying theoretical concepts in order to examine or question a familiar story is the act of critical study in literature, and this frames the reading of our texts,” said Dr. S Elika Assumi, Assistant Professor, ICFAI University, offering a response to the book.
Commending the authors for their endeavour in the field of theory and praxis and describing the collection of essays as “groundbreaking,” Dr. Assumi noted, “The essays of both the authors are distinct with a genuine inquiry of closely reading key Naga writers in English – Temsula Ao, Monalisa Changkija, Easterine Kire and Nini Lungalung. In addition, the essays also examine tropes of Naga women’s identity within the dominant social, cultural and political fabric while espousing voices of resistance represented through the writings of these Naga authors.”
Further, she held, “This text is far more than critical insights into key Naga writings, as much as it can be considered to be a necessary handbook for college and university students – in order to learn and gain methods of critically analyzing literary texts of contemporary Naga writings in English.”
The book will be made available in stores January 18 onwards.
