Prominent Naga poet, short story writer and novelist Easterine Kire paid visit to Mount Tiyi College, Wokha on March 18 and interacted with the teachers and the students.
Kire, while interacting with the students and faculties, shared about some of her literary works and also emphasised on the importance of writing ‘our stories by ourselves,’ stated a press release issued by Teacher in-charge publicity, MTC.
She also stressed on the importance of grammar and punctuation and shared with the students what inspired her to become a poet and a writer.
Referring to the elderly people in the Naga society, Kire commended, ‘they are the living history from whom we can gather valuable information about our past,’ the release stated.
Kire is a recipient of Governor’s Medal for excellence in Naga Literature and her novel, Bitter Wormwood was shortlisted for the Hindu Lit for Life prize in 2013.
In the same year, she received the Free Voice award from Barcelona. In 2016, her novel, When the River Sleeps was awarded The Hindu Literature prize.
In 1982, Kire became the first Naga poet in English to have her poetry published and she is also the first Naga writer to write books for children.
She has recently released her fifth children’s book, The Dancing Village.
Kire’s first novel, A Naga Village Remembered, was the first-ever Naga novel to be published.
Her novel, A Terrible Matriarchy, is a part of the Nagaland University degree syllabus.
Apart from being a founder member of the Barkweaver publications, she is also a member of the Norway-based band, Jazzpoesi.
Kire, during the interaction, also shared at length on her best seller novel ‘Mari’ with the teachers and the students and highlighted the significance of the battle of Kohima and the miseries faced by the people war time.
Also addressing the interaction session was Dr.ApeniLotha, principal of Mount Tiyi College who expressed happiness that the Naga poets and writers are now achieving remarkable excellence in literary field.
She also encouraged all the participants to strife for the best in their endeavours.