Four Naga authors conferred with WIN Canada Literary Awards 2026

Morung Express News
Mon | February 9

Recognising outstanding literary and artistic excellence across cultures, the Writers International Network (WIN) Canada on Saturday presented WIN Literary Awards 2026 to four Naga writers during the first-of-its-kind International Literary Gala held under the theme, “Celebrating Literature Across Borders” at Wangkhao Government College, Mon on February 7.

The recipients of the Literary Awards were Mmhonlümo Kikon, Poet, Author & Public Policy Analyst, and Vishü Rita Krocha, Poet, Author, Journalist & Publisher, who were both awarded with “Distinguished Poet & Writer Award,” while Kemya Yanlem, Writer, Artist, Social Activist & Art Therapist was awarded with “Emerging Writer & Artist Award,” and Tialila Kikon, Poet, Author & Educator with “Distinguished Poet & Global Poetry Ambassador Award”. 

Created to fulfil the need of an environment where the work of an artist is appreciated and recognized no matter what background, language or cultural heritage, WIN also seeks to discover, nourish, recognize, celebrate and promote writers from across the globe. 

Presenting the Literary Awards, Ashok Bhargava, the founding President of Writers International Network (WIN) Canada, remarked that Nagaland has its own unique place in the universe and urged the gathering not to think that they have to be something else.

“Taking pride in yourself, and challenging yourself is more important than being challenged by anybody else,” he asserted.

Stating that WIN promotes poets, writers, artists, dancers, community leaders, all kind of people, he asserted that at Writers International Network, “we value that you created something.”

‘Keep your traditions, literature, poetry and environment alive’

Ashok Bhargava, who is also a Poet, Writer, Translator, further challenged the gathering “to stand up for what you are, and not what other people want you to be.”

While there are a lot of differences between Nagaland and Canada, he drew upon the commonalities including literature that is passed on and shared history of the Nagas and Canadian aboriginals. “In their literature, there’s a sense of loss and a sense of betrayal,” he also highlighted while explaining that “there was betrayal by the people who came from outside because people who came from outside, they did not respect us for what we were.” 

“They tried to impose their values on us. They portrayed themselves as they were superior to us,” he highlighted. In this context, he also urged, “I will challenge you to keep your traditions, your literature, your poetry, and your environment alive” while underscoring that, “being different is not inferiority but being different means you are proud of what you are.” 

Further citing experiences of Canadian aboriginals, he however pointed to the resilience of the aboriginal people, who grew out of the misery. “And I see the same pride in Nagaland too, though their experience was different,” he noted. 

“Keep rooted in this land and this literature,” he emphasized in this regard. 

Highlights of the International Literary Gala organised by IQAC, Wangkhao Government College, Mon included keynote address by Dr Tialila, Principal of Wangkhao Government College (WGC), opening remarks by Dr. Esther P Konyak, Vice Principal, WGC, Wanghe Ongching: A Student Ensemble, The Naga Literary Renaissance: A Publisher’s Perspective by Vishü Rita Krocha, Poet, Author, Journalist & Publisher, ‘Beyond Words: The Art of Visual

Storytelling’ by Kemya Yanlem, Writer, Community-builder & Art Therapy Practitioner, a Book Talk with Mmhonlümo Kikon, Poet, Author & Public Policy Analyst in conversation with W Wangjin, Assistant Professor, Department of History, WGC and closing remarks by Honjem Konyak, IQAC Coordinator, WGC. The programme was chaired by Manyei Kuhmeishu N, Assistant Professor, Department of English.