The second day of the Literature Festival & Book Fair, organized by The White Owl in collaboration with Penguin, at Zone Niathu by the Park, Chümoukedima, featured discussions on the Indo-Myanmar borderland, governance challenges, and cultural narratives.
The day began with a session titled “Frontiers, Corridors and Connectivities: A Conversation on Writing about the Indo-Myanmar Borderland.” The discussion featured Sanjoy Hazarika, Mmhonlümo Kikon, Patricia Mukhim, and Samuel G. Ngaihte, moderated by Golan Naulak.
Sanjoy Hazarika, a prominent writer, academic, and policy expert noted that one of the key reasons the Indo-Myanmar borderland lacks attention and study was India’s inconsistent policy toward Myanmar.
He highlighted India’s Myanmar policy as being shaped primarily by two factors: security concerns in the Northeast and a strategic view of China as an adversary. He explained that Myanmar is a complex country currently embroiled in civil war, making it difficult to formulate a long-term policy that accommodates security interests while addressing economic and social concerns in the Northeast.
He also noted that the ‘Look East Policy,’ launched in 1992 , was later reframed as the ‘Act East Policy’ by Prime Minister Modi. However, Hazarika pointed out that such policies are ineffective if the neighborhood remained unstable.
He dwelt on the challenges of writing about the Indo-Myanmar borderlands as academic institutions in India barely considered the eastern border as significant as the western and northern borders.
He emphasized that in order to write well informed books and articles required extensive fieldworks on both sides of the border, something he accomplished last year by traveling into Myanmar and visiting underground-controlled territories.
Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim shared her experiences regarding border issues, particularly in the Indo-Bangladesh region. She noted that while border fencing exists along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border, there are still open sections, and people on both sides engage in fishing in the same river, demonstrating the impracticality of “hard borders” in these areas.
She pointed out that the Northeast shares only 1% of its borders with mainland India, while 99% is with neighboring countries and questioned why the Indian government does not pay adequate attention to the region.
She was critical of India looking at China as an adversary, arguing that diplomacy should emphasize dialogue and cooperation. She also highlighted the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project,a trade route between India and Myanamar, originally budgeted at Rs.536 crore has now ballooned to Rs.3,200 crore and still incomplete.
Former legislator and BJP’s national spokesperson, Mmhonlümo Kikon emphasized the colonial history of the region, pointing out that before British rule, the area was not considered a frontier. He highlighted how British policies, such as the 1826 Treaty, created an artificial divide between hills and valleys.
He further discussed security concerns, such as drug smuggling and migration due to Myanmar’s internal conflict. Kikon also touched on the Free Movement Regime (FMR), originally designed to facilitate cross-border cultural connections. However, he noted that it was later restricted to a 10 km radius due to security concerns.
Samuel G. Ngaihte, a research scholar, discussed the absence of academic frameworks to write about the Indo-Myanmar borderlands, noting that the concept of “borders” is largely imposed by states and does not necessarily reflect the lived realities of people in these regions. He called for a new approach to academic studies, incorporating local terminologies and perspectives to better represent the region.
The final session of the day, titled “Navigating Bureaucracy: Governance and Challenges in the Northeast,” featured Kekhrievor Kevichüsa, Livitoli Sukhalu, and former chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, moderated by Sashi Wapang, additional commissioner Central GST.
Initiating the discussion, Alemtemshi acknowledged the enduring positive influence of British colonial governance structures on local administration, while urging modern bureaucrats to embrace reform and innovation.
Jamir praised the legacy of institutions like the village council system, Gaon Buras (village elders), and the dobashi (traditional interpreters and advisors) system, crediting them with fostering stability and participatory governance in Nagaland’s rural communities. He noted that these systems, despite their colonial roots, have been instrumental in shaping the state’s administrative fabric.
While pointing to progressive reforms introduced by former chief secretaries like A.M. Gokhale and R.S. Pandey, Jamir mentioned the success of the Village Development Board (VDB) and communitization initiatives, which transferred power to local communities, enhancing village-level decision-making and resource management.
However, Jamir stressed that the future of Nagaland’s bureaucracy hinges on adaptability. He urged civil servants to become “educated, human-centered, and digitally aware,” emphasizing the importance of technological literacy and empathy in public service.
Expressing optimism, Jamir placed his faith in Nagaland’s youth, describing them as a driving force capable of leading transformative change in the state. He underscored that bureaucratic evolution is crucial to ensure that governance keeps pace with societal needs.
Deputy secretary P&AR, Livitoli Sukhalu emphasized that while Nagaland has a young statehood status, it has a longer history of governance than often realized.
She pointed out that bureaucracy in Nagaland faces the challenge of not being fully institutionalized, with the public yet to fully integrate governance into daily life. She also highlighted the accessibility of government officials in Nagaland as a positive aspect, despite occasional criticisms.
She discussed resistance to technology within bureaucratic systems, such as the Smile app and e-governance tools. Initially, there was opposition to systems like the Personal Information Management System (PIMS) from departments like school education.
However, once salary disbursement was tied to the system, participation increased. Similarly, skepticism toward online registration for the CMHIS health insurance scheme gradually diminished as people realized its efficiency.
Commissioner & Secretary, Kekhrievor Kevichüsa analyzed bureaucracy from a theoretical perspective, referencing Max Weber’s definition and highlighting areas where Nagaland’s bureaucracy falls short, such as lack of specialization, informal hierarchies, and issues with transparency and merit-based recruitment.
He called for public access to government documents, standardized recruitment exams, and better accountability through mechanisms like the RTI Act and grievance redressal systems.
Workshops were conducted on various topics on the second day, including a Writing Workshop with Hollotoli School, led by Varsha Seshan, and a Creative Writing Workshop with Ratna Vira at the Town Hall.
Children’s sessions focused on culture and folklore, offering activities for different age groups. For ages 6-8, events included a book launch for “Wrestling Day” by Theyie Keditsu, storytelling sessions, jewelry crafting with Zaben Murry, and theatrical storytelling by Pankaj Saikia.
For ages 9-12, sessions included a wordless book-making workshop with Pankaj Saikia, jewelry crafting, and an exploration of Manipuri folklore with Linthoi Chanu. The 13-16 age group participated in fantasy storytelling, a fishbowl discussion with Varsha Seshan, and sessions on folklore-inspired writing.
Other notable sessions included “Roots and Wings: Nurturing a Love for History and Culture in the Next Generation,” featuring Theyie Keditsu, L. Somi Roy, Hannah Lalhlanpuii, and Malsawmi Jacob, moderated by Linthoi Chanu. Another session, “A Feast of Words: Food, Culture, and Literature,” brought together Rohini Rana, Alemjungla Jamir, and Nilanjan Bhattacharya, moderated by Rituparna Patgiri.
Finally, “Love in the Time of Pop Culture: Writing New-Age Romance” featured Swati Hegde and Durjoy Datta in a discussion moderated by Gurveen Chadha.
The festival’s second day offered an in-depth exploration of crucial issues such as borderland studies, governance, and literature, while also fostering young talent through creative workshops.