Beyond the news and headlines, Easterine talks of God’s grace, discipline and humility

The Naga Republic exclusive interview with award winning Naga writer Easterine Kire

Another top notch award has come the way of noted Naga writer Easterine Kire. Having won The Hindu Prize, 2015, for her novel When the River Sleeps, Easterine made us proud again by winning the Book of the Year Award for fiction at the Tata Literature Live Awards 2017 with her book Son of the Thundercloud. The award was announced Sunday evening at the Tata Literature Live event in Mumbai where publishers and writers from over 100 countries are participating.

Here is an exclusive interview conducted by A. Sentiyula of The Naga Republic with Easterine Kire

The Naga Republic: Congratulations! You have won yet another big award! Were you surprised at winning the Tata Literature Live! Book of the Year Award (2017) for Son of the Thundercloud?

Easterine: Thank you and Yes I was surprised because there were many good books out there along with mine. I can only say it is God’s grace.

The Naga Republic:You are a prolific writer. What drives you to write? Could you please share some details of your writing routine to motivate aspiring writers?

Easterine: Writing is the job I have chosen to work at. It is not a hobby. It is a job, a life. I write a minimum of six to eight hours every day and a maximum of 13 hours if I am immersed into a new book. It requires a lot of discipline and humility: one should be disciplined at working at one’s craft and one should have the humility to accept the editing and corrections that others give. Many young writers resist editing or suggestions and that is not going to help their writing.

The Naga Republic:A reviewer has stated that your writing is reminiscent of Paulo Coelho’s. Papers have been written about the elements of “magic realism” in your writings. Was this book written as a counterpoint/parallel to T.S. Eliot’s vision in Journey of the Magiand The Wasteland?

Easterine: While it is very flattering to be compared to Paulo Coelho, I really don’t see much similarity between our writings. I don’t follow a certain pattern. At the moment, I am writing books which take their core from Naga folktales, and in Son of the Thundercloud, I was very interested in the idea of the boy Jesus growing up as a Naga boy, and in combining scriptural prophecy and Naga folk wisdom. No, I was not thinking of T.S. Eliot’s work either as it does not fit into our indigenous interpretations of the supernatural coexisting with physical existence.

The Naga Republic:Your books are replete with references to Naga folklore. Some may call it a reimagining while some may call it a distortion of ancient lore. Have you ever received any criticism from purists for ‘exoticizing’ or presenting Naga folktales in this new form which you seem to have mastered?

Easterine: Not yet received any brickbats from purists. I don’t see it as exoticising Naga lore when I borrow from our folk wisdom and storytelling tradition.The ancient Greeks to which western civilisation traces its literary roots were doing that in the 5^th century BC, building upon the tales of Homer. African literature does it, so do the Australian indigenous writers. The point is,we all dip into the folk because that is shared memory, shared wisdom, shared literature and most native readers will get the references. In addition, there is so much beauty in our folklore and so many levels to work with. However, I do not always work out of the folk, so this is a kind of phase I am passing through in my literary growth.

The Naga Republic:Son of the Thundercloudcontains the story of the Virgin Birth woven into a Naga creation story. It would make so much sense to an older Naga who is familiar with both. Unfortunately the younger generation of Nagas as well as the outside world may not be aware of the local story. Was it an artistic device to bring these two stories together in order to reach out to younger Nagas and a wider readership or was it just ‘divine inspiration’?

Easterine: Do you really think so? That the younger lot would not get it? I feel rather that it’s a good way to represent nativized Christianity in a way that an ordinary villager can relate to it. Many school children of Nagaland today have read my book of Naga Folktales Retold as well as other folktale volumes. They are developing shared knowledge of Naga folklore and using that they can get a deeper appreciation of what I have tried to do in Son of the Thundercloud. A book club of 70 students in Fernwood School has eagerly read the book and they sent word asking for the next book. Yes it was an artistic device and yes, I believe there was divine inspiration too.

The Naga Republic:One of the themes in the novel is Regeneration. The Naga Republic is published by Restore Life- which is an initiative towards restoration of some the fundamental things around us like health, environment, values and faith. For something to regenerate, it should have withered in the first place. Do you still have “hope” like the sisters in the novel that Naga society will be restored? Or do you think that the time for “transformation” is over?

Easterine: Dead things like 700-hundred-year-old seed grains came to life in the book when the rain, both a physical reality and a spiritual metaphor, comes to the famine devastated land. I believe that the valley of dead bones that parts of Naga society seems to resemble can come back to life when a deeply transforming, identity-changing rain falls on us. It’s not too late. It can come from the work that bodies like the Forum for Naga Reconciliation are committed to.

The Naga Republic:You have worn many hats throughout your life- journalist, teacher, poet, songwriter, playwright and more! I remember listening to your album (in cassette form!) Catch a FallingLeaf nearly twenty years back! You are now into Jazz poetry. Any more hidden talents that you would like to share with your readers?

Easterine: I think this question is too embarrassing to answer!

The Naga Republic:Your comedienne niece Miss Imsong has just made a hilarious skit of her guarding your award certificate! Have you ever imagined that you would become an icon of the Naga youth? Any plans to write specifically for the youths?

Easterine: I don’t see myself as becoming an icon. For public information, my next book is for younger readers especially dedicated to my female students ranging from over 20 years ago to the newly acquired ones of today!

The Naga Republic:You do make your presence felt on Facebook once in a while. Are you using other social media as well? Does it interfere with your writing or boost your creativity?

Easterine: Facebook is great for promoting events and inviting people to it. I also use my network there to get info on history of certain tribes, cultural info etc. I think it’s all about disciplining your usage of time spent on social media. You can’t let it control you. I use it to keep in touch with my nieces and nephews and readers. Doesn’t affect my creativity adversely or otherwise!

The Naga Republic:Do you consider yourself a successful writer now?

Easterine: I think we cannot measure success in terms of awards. If you enjoy what you are doing and if others read it and enjoy it as much, that is the measure of success for me.

The Naga Republic:How worried are you about the problems confronting the Naga people today—corruption, factionalism and the unresolved political question. Also what are some of the things we need to do to try resolve them?

Easterine: That is too big a question! The individual is too small to tackle any one of these issues. We need to work together as a community because community is the heart of Naga life. I think a way forward is not to be negative all the time. Fight negativity. Teach brotherhood, learn brotherhood. That will go a long way in helping us resolve our problems. At least that is what I believe.