Books listed for literature award

Dimapur, Nov. 25 (EMN): The Kohima Educational Society has announced a number of books that have been listed for ‘final judging’ for an award, Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature. The organisation issued a press release on Sunday informing about the books and authors. “The committee of judges for the Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature is pleased to announce the books that have been short-listed for final judging as earlier announced on July 20, 2018. The short-listing was done by members of the Kohima Educational Trust/Kohima Educational Society (KET/KES), including two from the United Kingdom,’ the press release stated. The list was released Sunday afternoon at a simple ceremony by the Society’s chairman Dr P. Ngully, in Kohima, the updates stated. For the inaugural edition, the organizers stated, ‘no strict conditions’ were made and the committee tried to be ‘as accommodative as possible.’ The shortlisted books included six in the non-fiction category and two books in the fiction category according to the submissions that were received, the updates stated. “Reluctantly, the committee had to reject some books for reasons of propriety. And so, while six books had been selected in the non-fiction category, only two books were shortlisted in the fiction category,” the Society stated. The books in the nonfiction category: “A Rediscovery and Rebuilding of Naga Cultural Values” by Inato Yekheto Shikhu; “A Naga Odyssey: Visier’s Long Way Home” by Visier Meyasetsu Sanyü and Richard Broome; “Forgiveness and Politics: A Critical Appraisal” by Kethoser Aniu Kevichüsa; “Literary Cultures of India’s Northeast: Naga Writings in English” by K B Veio Pou; “Nagaland and India: The Blood and the Tears” by Kaka D Iralu; “Insider Perspectives: Critical Essays on Literature from Nagaland” by Vizovono Elizabeth and Sentinaro Tsuren. The books in the fiction category: “When the River Sleeps” by Easterine Kire; and “The Starry Night” by Nzan Kikon. The shortlisted books will be read and judged by a team of three independent judges, having no connection with KET/KES, and their decisions will be final, the updates stated. The winners’ names will be announced in the latter part of March 2019 and the prizes (one in each category) will be given at a grand function in Kohima during the first part of April coinciding with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, the organizers stated. The press release informed that the 2nd edition of the Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature will take place in December 2019 itself, during the Hornbill Festival. The announcement for entries will be made in April during the prize-giving function of this first edition. The terms and conditions may vary slightly from the first edition. All are invited to be on the look-out and take part in the competition, the updates stated. “Meanwhile, good luck to each of the competitors for the 1st Gordon Graham Prize for Naga Literature,” the updates added.