Kohima, Nagaland
PenThrill turns 10, with 81 books on its roster
KOHIMA — PenThrill Publication House celebrated its tenth anniversary on Monday at Kohima College, Kohima, with Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, advisor of School Education and SCERT, as the anniversary guest.
PenThrill, based in Kohima, was founded on November 27, 2013 by Vishü Rita Krocha, a poet, journalist, writer, and publisher. In ten years, the publication house has published 81 books (including vernaculars) by authors from Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
“Ten years ago, publishing was almost unheard of, and there were also very few authors from Nagaland that one could name. This, despite the fact that the oral tradition of Naga literature has been passed down from generations to generations, and although unwritten, it has been my firm belief that storytelling has always been at the heart of the Naga culture,” Krocha reflected on the occasion.
Krocha recounted the beginning of her journey, saying she quit her full-time job in journalism in 2013 and took a risk to embark on an unfamiliar journey. She had no grand plans for best-sellers, no business sense, and no financial or other resources. She added that she had no idea what PenThrill would be like in ten years or if PenThrill would even survive the next few years.
“I was just another poor journalist who believed in the power of words and was deeply persuaded by the thought that ‘writing can change the world,” she said, adding that she only knew that she loved books and took immense pleasure in writing.
“But that was enough to drive me towards an uncharted territory, even though I didn’t know a thing about the business of publishing,” she shared, taking pride in the fact that today PenThrill has a ten-year success story to share.
Talking about the challenges along the way, she said: “There were mistakes and failures; there were times I got tired of doing certain things over and over again—the seemingly insignificant things like being the driver, the labourer, the cleaner, the distributor, the proofreader, and several other roles all at once. But because the end result is always books, I think I am also learning to enjoy the entire process of getting a book out there.”
Reflecting on PenThrill’s 10-year journey, she noted that dreaming was the easier part; it’s making the dream a reality that proved most challenging. She expressed gratitude for having lived ten years of her dream. She acknowledged her family and friends for being there and helping her come this far.
Advisor of School Education and SCERT, Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, said in his address that for Nagas, without written history, the idea of putting thoughts and everyday lifestyle into books is challenging, and he lauded the PenThrill for having created the space and bridging the gap.
He also advocated on the occasion for the documentation of folklores that are on the verge of extinction.
Other highlights of the event included Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, an indigenous feminist, poet, academician, and educator, sharing her experience with PenThrill; special presentations by Zizi and Jewel; greetings by Teisovi Gerard Meyase, assistant professor of Kohima Science College, Jotsoma; and prayer by Zaseto Sazü, school chaplian of Mount Sinai Higher Secondary School.