A book titled, “The Hornbill Festival: Culture, Tradition and Identity”, authored by Dr. Tatongkala, was released by advisor to chief minister, and chairman, Investments and IDAN, Abu Metha, on February 8.
Metha congratulated the author and thanked the publisher for supporting and believing in her, and acknowledged the effort and sacrifices made by the author.
Metha also gave a background on the Hornbill Festival and the dynamic change it had brought about in the state. “Hornbill Festival is one way to push Naga identity”, he said, mentioning that the festival was the most popular and well known intellectual property of Nagaland.
Speaking on the book, he expressed hope that it would create new narratives, educate, and open new doors, and encouraged Nagas to write and speak about ourselves, the people and the land.
Talking about her first book, Dr Tatongkala said it was the outcome of years of research that proved to be both challenging and rewarding.
She said, “The Hornbill Festival has rarely been a subject of research’, and expressed hope that her book would act as a point of reference for researchers and scholars and would be a valuable addition in promoting cultural awareness and preserving our heritage.
In the publisher’s note, Chief Editor, Heritage Publishing House, Dr. Lanusangla Tzudir, informed that the book was the first academic research works on the Hornbill Festival.
The programme was chaired by HoD Department of Psychology, Tetso College, Dr Nouzhienino Peseyie, dedicatory prayer by Pastor DABA, Imnatoshi Longkumer, and attended by unions such as Longkhum Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Longkhum Kaketshir Telongjem Dimapur, Longjang Senso Telongjem Dimapur, and Longjang Kaketshir Telongjem Dimapur.