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DIMAPUR — "The Invisible Boy," authored by 9-year-old Kevipu Meyase and published by PenThrill Publication House, was released by the chairman of Sovima Village Council, Sebastian Zumvü, on Monday at Tenyiphe-1 Village Council Hall, Chümoukedima.
Speaking at the launching programme, Zumvü said that at such a young age, Meyase has already shown talent and creativity, and his story is a testament to the power of dreams and the importance of believing in oneself.
He mentioned that the various characters created by the child prodigy are amazing, showcasing the fertility of the author's imagination. He asserted that at an age when his peers were playing hide-and-seek or watching cartoons, the young author had been creating a world of fantasy where his character was saving the world.
Zumvü added that he was most impressed by the young author's vocabulary and urged the young audience to emulate their friend Kevipu by developing the habit of reading and writing. He opined that the art of writing is not inborn but comes with practice.
While delivering the publisher’s note, Vishü Rita Krocha said that this book marks the 95th publication of PenThrill. Sharing the process of developing the book, she mentioned that while skimming through the first draft, she suggested that Kevipu localise the foreign names and places to make the book more relevant in the Naga context, which he willingly did.
However, on further reading, she realised that localising names and places would not work for this particular book, as it features incidents that could not happen in a place like Nagaland. Consequently, this young boy surprised her further by creating imaginary places.
She added that, even as an avid reader herself, the genre Meyase writes in is an unexplored area for her. This made it even more challenging for her as a publisher, but it also opened up a new and truly fascinating world, not just for someone like her, but even more so for any keen child.
Stating that it is rare to come across children who write, and even more so, children who can articulate their wildest imaginations, crafting stories that even adults can learn from, she highlighted how he incorporates values of family, love, and friendship, reminding readers that good always triumphs over evil.
She expressed that young emerging writers like Meyase make her believe there is hope for literature to grow and thrive in Nagaland.
Krocha also acknowledged Meyase’s parents, who took it upon themselves to nurture and mould the dreams of this young boy. She requested the gathering to resolve to be ambassadors of Naga literature, as the literature community needs their patronage to evolve and grow and to come on par with the rest of the world.
While speaking to Eastern Mirror, the young author and Grade 4 student at Kemnbay School said that his inspiration for writing began when his mother gave him a bunch of books for his sixth birthday.
He mentioned that the idea to make the character invisible was intended to add an interesting element to the story and make the book special. He also added that the most fun part of writing the book was the first chapter, as it contained many unexpected mistakes.
The author also shared that he plans to write more books, with potential titles such as “The Lost Tribe” and “The Guinea Pigs,” as well as other ideas he is currently considering.
Meyase shared that he started writing the book “The Invisible Boy” on February 9 this year. In his message to readers, he encouraged them not to lose hope and to fight against social evils and crimes in their society.
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