‘It is now time to create our own (Naga) literary culture’

September 9, 2023 46 Views No Comment

Runshito Lims’s ‘Kindling Killing Passion’ launched

Morung Express News
Kohima | September 9

As the fourth or fifth generation of English-speaking people and English-writing people who use English for creative and artistic expressions, Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, Poet, Academic & Educator on Friday asserted that “it is now time to create our own literary culture.

Addressing the launch of ‘Kindling Killing Passion’ written by Runshito Lims at Red Cross Conference Hall, Kohima as the special guest, she noted that this has to be done against a very set kind of world literary system. Pointing out that “we are absolutely colonised in the way we think of good literature and bad literature”, she emphasized that, “now the time has come for us to decolonise our mentality, decolonise our taste in literature, and really begin to think –‘what I have to express from my heart in the language that I speak and know is literature.’”

“And one of the things that I have seen in this wonderful renaissance of literature that is being produced by young Nagas is that their work speaks to other people who want to read”, she remarked. And so, against all odds, she expressed happiness that the author, Runshito Lims has now written his second book. Further referring to the design of the book cover, she said, “when we look at this book, we begin to understand that there is sort of that very delicate balance between life and death and between what it takes for a work of literature to come into existence and how fragile that existence already is.”

Substantiating her point on decolonising literature, she said, “if we are educated in colonial traditions, our tendency is to have standards that we cannot reproduce anymore.” In this regard, she said, “we are not capable of producing whether in terms of culture or our place in history” but also questioned if that matters.

Nagas writing in English, she stated, are not able to break into the world literary system while elucidating that “it is because the world literary system does not have the dictionary, the capability to understand what we are creating.” For the world to understand this, she emphasized that, “we do not need to write for outsiders or other people, for other attention, for other kinds of recognition” but for each other.

What matters, she pointed out is, “are the people understanding it? Do the common people understand what you are writing? Does your literature speak to the everyday Naga person? Does your poetry have meaning for the masses?” Terming Runshito’s work as that kind, she commended him for including a piece in his local dialect in the book.

She encouraged the gathering to follow Runshito’s example and infuse our English with the beauty of our own tribal languages.

‘Discover & kindle your passion’: Dr. Riku Khutso
Addressing the book launch as the guest of honour, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Kohima, Dr Riku Khutso said that the author has given an opportunity for readers to reflect on their personal lives while stressing on the importance of discovering one’s passion.

He urged young people to discover their passions early in life while pointing out that starting late is expensive. Also pointing to the need to identify the needs and gaps in the society, he called upon young people to develop their passions around the gaps in the society.

“At the end of the day, as individuals we have to write our own story”, he noted while adding that, “we are the author of our own story. Let us stay driven and be productive and contribute to the society.”

In his author’s note, Runshito Lims said that the book is an amalgam of poetry filled with diverse waves of emotions and feelings while putting across that, “we all grow up with a multitude of passions but with time, those passions die”. Stating that God has given each and everyone unique talents, he also urged on the need “to start kindling our passion and start growing in our shoes beautifully.”

Runshito Lims’s first book of poetry and haiku, titled ‘Allegories of Life’ was published in 2019. He currently writes under the alias Runsh, and shares his poems and little dramatic situations on his Facebook page @runshito_lims and @runshito_lims on Instagram.

Highlights of the event included dedicatory prayer by Wongtokiu, Pastor, Yimkhiung Baptist Borü, Kohima; publisher’s note by Vishü Rita Krocha; special song by Shokhumla; book review by James HK, HoD, Department of English, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous) Jakhama and Inatoli K. Jimo, Research Scholar & Spoken Word Artist. Rebecca Khiuphur was the host for the event.

‘Kindling Killing Passion’ is the 78th publication of PenThrill.