Author Huthuka Sumi during a conversation with Abokali Jimomi on his debut book 'GIANTS' at The White Owl, Chümoukedima on August 23. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | August 23
Termed ‘a truly giant debut’ by its publisher HarperCollins, ‘GIANTS’ by Huthuka Sumi was formally released at The White Owl, Chümoukedima, on August 23. Blending magical realism with profound emotional insight, the lyrical prose explores identity, silence, and the stories that “make us.”
Between a doting mother, a loyal friend, and a world of stories, Kato, the protagonist, appears to need little else. Yet what he desires most is to be like everyone else—to be able to talk. When Kene, a mythical giant, seeks him out as a storyteller, Kato begins to doubt his own voice.
As all stories begin somewhere, Sumi’s began with a personal incident in which he was beaten up by policemen, an experience that eventually led to his debut novel.
During a candid conversation with Abokali Jimomi at the launch, he recalled that getting beaten up at the hands of some policemen really led me to writing this book. “If there is something I know today, it is never pick a fight with police people. They will give you a nice thrashing, put you in jail, and you cannot do anything about it,” he said.
Having just returned from Delhi after ten years, jaded and unsure of what lay ahead, Sumi began questioning himself after the traumatic encounter, “What do I have besides rage and anger?” From that point, he decided to write about a boy who literally and metaphorically lacks a voice, “a boy who will rise above his own insecurities and rage.”
Sumi explained that he wanted to explore what it truly means to have a voice. “Does it only mean communicating physically, or does it mean something deeper, finding your inner strength, knowing who you are, and having no doubts about what you want to tell the world?” The book’s central theme, he said, is rising above hate and pessimism.
Emphasising the importance of honesty, Sumi said that what the world desperately needs right now is truth-telling above all else. “But truth cannot be only subjective, it needs objectivity,” he added.
Through his creative lens, the author brings the ordinary and the supernatural side by side without contradiction. As Kene the giant declares in the book, “Sometimes we have to tell stories that we don’t like.”
Reflecting on his own position, Sumi shared, “How do I not allow the bitterness of always being a victim to overwhelm the truth? Because sometimes, the bitterness of being treated a certain way turns us into the oppressor again. That is very dangerous. We must seek objective truth, and justice and equality for everyone.”
When asked whether magical realism was a deliberate stylistic choice or simply the most natural way of storytelling in the Naga imagination, Sumi said it came to him instinctively. “Magical realism has always been something I gravitated towards because it allows so much freedom.”He pointed out that for tribal communities, with a long tradition of oral storytelling rather than written literature, stories have always carried a natural power. “It does not need to be taught. Every child grows up with stories.”
However, he observed that people often undervalue their own stories. “Most of our folklores are short, and we tend to undermine them. But since I grew up loving works like The Lord of the Rings and Gabriel GarcíaMárquez, who spoke powerfully through symbolism and metaphor, I thought, ‘Can I take our simple folklores, infuse them with the same depth, and draw the same lessons?’”
This vision shaped his debut, where he sought to turn short folklores into metaphors and symbols that could speak about voice and evolve into magical realism.
Sumi said he wanted to gift the world a work that is both uniquely Naga and universally resonant. Writing the book also pushed him towards activism. While he recognises himself as a pantser, he admitted that he writes in a frenzy, with no set routine, sometimes writing endlessly, and at other times facing complete block.
He expressed joy at the emotional responses from readers. Although the book was initially targeted at young adults, HarperCollins now finds itself in a “fix” because 70 per cent of buyers have been adults.
Priced at Rs 299, GIANTS is available across cities. He hinted at a sequel, telling readers they can expect one once a positive foreign deal is secured.
