Naga author O Jungio’s debut novel, “A Kite of Farewells,” published by Rupa Publications, was officially launched on May 5. It is now available on Amazon and will soon be available in offline stores.
The stories in this collection are based in Nagaland and speak of its everyday life as well as the local beliefs and myths. They revolve around the characters’ encounters with grief, loss, and goodbyes.
The author, who works for the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Nagaland, has previously published a collection of poems titled Kalopsia in 2019.
An update from the author said that “A Kite of Farewells” invites readers to explore the depth of human connections and the artefacts that become the legacy of those connections. It is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the resilience of the human spirit in finding beauty even in the face of absence.
“A Kite of Farewells is a poignant—and, at times, absurd—anthology of departure. Each story within these pages is tethered to an object that bears silent witness to the lives that once brushed against its form,” according to the publisher.
As you turn these pages, you will encounter stories that weave the threads of loss, each narrative a delicate strand in the fabric of existence. The objects—mute spectators to human sorrow—become the vessels of collective grief, the repositories of the most intimate of farewells. These stories are like the eponymous kite, soaring high, carrying with it memories and goodbyes, perhaps symbolizing the soul’s journey or the act of releasing emotions and memories into the sky.