North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC) monograph series-1 “Life and Dignity” written on women’s testimonies of sexual violence in Dimapur (Nagaland) by Dolly Kikon was released Saturday at Sisterhood Network, Anchor building, Burma camp.
The monograph was jointly released by Nagaland alliance for women and child rights (NACWR) president NK Keny and Alongla Aier from Sisterhood Network.
Speaking at the release programme, NESRC director, Dr. Melvil Pereira while congratulating the author said more than being present for the publicity of the monograph release, he was present for the “publicity for the theme”.
He said the monograph should be a wakeup call for the Naga society and encouraged all to read it. “The book will be disturbing, and that it should be disturbing, as this disturbance will wake us up” added Dr. Melvil.
Reading an excerpt from the monograph, Dolly Kikon managed to stir a sense of urgency to address the issue of rising sexual violence against women and children in Nagaland.
Kikon said while working on the monograph, she brought in her anthropological perspective by absorbing all the sights and sounds around her.
She also acknowledged the artist, Iris for doing the cover of the monograph.
NK Keny while appreciating the efforts of the author encouraged fellow Nagas to be bold, strong and to voice out for the society. Extending assistance to the author, Keny said “we need to work hand in hand”.
She also spoke at length about her mission on Para Legal Advocacy work on woman and child rights.
Reflecting on violence against women in Naga society, Alongla Aier expressed concern over the lack of relevant statistical data and proper documentation on the issue.
Asserting that violence against women was still new for most women in Nagaland, Aier said as per Sisterhood Nagaland “community capacity indicators” out of 128 women that it was working with at present only 44% know about domestic violence while 56% knows that women do have rights but have not definite knowledge about what are those rights.
She said 56% knows the importance of health but focus more on children and husband’s health than their own health while 56% are aware about gender differences and only 48% women are aware about the right to inheritance but are voiceless.
She attributed refraining to talk on issues relating to violence against women by the people as one of the reasons for the lack of proper data.
Congratulating Kikon on the release, Aier termed it as a “courageous effort” and added that the monograph reads in form of “simple story telling”.
Earlier, warmly welcoming the gathering, chairperson of the programme T. Amela Jamir from Prodigal’s Home, Dimapur also expressed her anguish on the growing random acts of violence against women in Nagaland, and more so in Dimapur.
It may be noted that Dolly Kikon is a political anthropologist. She obtained her doctoral degree from the Department of Anthropology, Stanford University. Currently, she is a postdoctoral fellow at the department of social anthropology, Stockholm University.
Initially, the book will be made available at Sisterhood Network, Anchor Building, East Block, Burma Camp, Dimapur, Nagaland.