The second edition of ‘Open Book, exploring the wonders of Naga stories’, organized by Writers’ Collective Kohima in collaboration with the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), was held at D/Cafe Kohima on October 4. The event aimed to bring together creative minds from various fields to support and promote each other’s work.
The series featured a talk by debut author Vibeituonuo Kuotsu Solo, whose book ”The Light After The Storm” is slated for release this October. Solo shared that her writing journey began with a lifelong love of reading, inspired by Naga authors such as Easterine Kire and Vishü Rita Krocha. She also reflected on her grandfather’s storytelling and how it influenced her own narrative style.
Solo revealed that her debut book features 13 short stories blending personal experiences with fiction and non-fiction. She candidly shared that the book addresses her experience with divorce and expressed hope that it would open conversations around broken marriages and relationships.
The event also included the ‘Fresh Voices Open Mic’ segment, which showcased young poets and authors including Runshito Lims, K. Roselyn Miachieo, T Dili Khekho, Kenlumzailie Michui, Sofia Livimi Swu, Boliti Achumi, and Mharoni C Yanthan, both students of Stella Higher Secondary School, Kohima.
In her closing remarks, Vizovono Elizabeth, General Secretary of Writers’ Collective Kohima, described the evening as profound and highlighted the importance of nurturing fresh literary voices.
In Nagaland, literature being something that is still very new, she noted that people are yet to learn to appreciate literature but she urged the emerging voices not to lose hope but to keep on writing while asserting that “our voices are so important.”