Author and civil servant Sentilong Ozüküm launched his sixth novel, Love Like This, at a ceremony held at First Rain in Sangtemla Ward, Mokokchung. The book is published by Bookipedia Publications in collaboration with First Rain.
The launch was officiated by Ronojyoti Roy, a facilitator at Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung and a former teacher of Ozüküm. Roy described the novel as an engaging exploration of taboo subjects and praised Ozüküm for balancing his civil service career with his literary work. “A writer is a keeper of conscience,” Roy remarked, acknowledging Ozüküm’s courage in tackling difficult social issues.
In his address, Ozüküm shared that the central message of the novel is: “Sometimes the greatest peace comes from embracing what we already have and not from searching for what we have lost.” He expressed hope that readers would see reflections of their own experiences in the story.
The event also featured a discussion between Ozüküm and Maongienla, Assistant Professor at Fazl Ali College, who delved into the novel’s themes, characterization, and structure. Jonathan S Singsit, Assistant Professor at Yingli College, offered a review of the book, while Dr Bendangrenla Longkumer spoke from the publisher’s perspective.
Ozüküm, who began his literary journey with Campus Blues in 2010, has since written several notable works, including Sincerely Yours (2017), Dreams & Chaos (2020), The Case of Longti Village (2021), and Teacher Man (2022). His works have received attention beyond literature, with successful adaptations in web series, theatre, and film.
Ozüküm continues to balance his roles as a public servant and author, with Love Like This marking another contribution to his evolving literary career.