Kohima, August 25 (MExN): The Kohima Educational Society (KES) on Wednesday announced the books shortlisted for the 2021 Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature.
Following are the books shortlisted for the 2021 Gordon Graham Prize:
Fiction Category:
1. Dreams & Chaos – Sentilong Ozukum
2. Once Upon a Time in Kohima – Konaei Shongdok
3. The Unlikely Indian – Nzan Kikon
4. Waiting for the Dust to Settle – Veio Pou
Non-Fiction Category:
1. A Beginner’s Guide to the Butterflies of the Himalayan Realm – Wonchi & Mhayani Murry
2. Infrastructure of Injustice: State and Politics in Manipur and Northeast indict – Raile Rocky Züpao
3. The Chang Nagas: In Memory of our ancestors – Wongto Chingmak
4. The Lost Mission: A true story of love, sacrifice & betrayal – Pekingto Y Jimo
5. Thipuzu: A world of its own – Sezolü Khamu
6. A Girl Swallowed by a Tree: Lotha Naga Tales Retold – Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton
KES in an update issued by Charles Chase and Dr Aküm Longchari informed that an independent panel of three judges will review the shortlisted books and announce the winners of each category in November 2021.
With the mission statement to “promote good writing and to raise the profiles of Naga writers,” the award is aimed at recognizing and rewarding the knowledge-keepers and idea givers of Naga society and is intended to encourage reading and writing within the Naga community and of course, more interactions within Naga society and with others.
The Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature is named after Gordon Graham who initiated and founded the Kohima Educational Trust (KET) in 2004 with the intent to assist with the education of the descendants of the Naga allies who helped the British to win the Battle of Kohima.
KES states that Gordon yearned to see Nagas come closer with each other and to live in peace and harmony. It was his idea to start a Naga Literature Prize to promote Naga writing. Gordon passed away in 2015. To honour and celebrate Gordon’s vision the Kohima Educational Society, the Nagaland counterpart of the KET, decided that this Prize for Naga Literature should be named after Gordon. Hence, the Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature, it stated.
