Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, PR Kyndiah with the Naga author at New Delhi.
Dimapur, February 12 : A book on the past Naga lives titled, ‘Ancient Naga head hunter’s lives and tales’ authored by Tsuknungpenzu was release by Union Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah in New Delhi on January 10.
A press release received here today, while informing about the book release, stated that the Union Minister, PR Kyndiah commented that ‘Northeast is generally very peaceful and it is essential for people from the region to dispel the misnomer about the region’.
He said the diversified region has come a long way since the era of headhunting and hoped that the book would also help crush the myth from “head hunters” to “heart hunters”, the release stated.
Giving a brief highlight about the book, the release stated that ‘this is the first book that tells in detail about ancient head hunters works and adventures -- their exploits, fightings, love family life, dangers, fame and honour accorded to them’.
In this book, shorter poems in simple rhyming verses retell about the general and self-aspirations of the head hunters and their children for adventure that involved fighting with enemies, code of conduct or unwritten laws that control and govern the head hunter’s actions. The stories are set before American Baptist missionaries set foot on the hills in 1872, when the so called Village Republics (that are still prevalent) were in full glow, the release stated.
In this volume of the five-book series, the author explores the head hunting times of the Nagas with short stories laced with lyrical form. Rich with themes of heroism and romance, revenge and honour, there are enchanting narratives of close-knit and well-organized society.
One of the essential elements of those times were the rich lyrical usage in all important occasions. The society had a vogue in the art of extempore singing.
The author insists on this lyrical form because of the rich literary heritage as it was during those times in the book which gives us a bit of taste like the legends of Beowulf and King Arthur Spencer-like reading.
Some of the narratives are based on true stories and some fictionalized to serve the theme purpose. A
nother theme the author explores is the respect for women’s dignity that runs along all the stories that are full of action, songs with glaring detail, the release stated while adding that the author’s effort has been more importantly to restore almost vanishing Naga folklore and culture, mainly legends and folktales.