November 1, 2024: Naga Writers Speak 9th Series Cum National Author’s Day

At the Conference Hall, Kohima College’s English Department hosted the 9th Naga Writers Speak Cum National Author’s Day. The day’s program was chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Medogunuo Ngone. The Resource person gave a talk on “Children’s Literature.” The department head and Associate Professor, Smti. Khriezenuo Angami briefly highlighted the main goals of the activity for the students, which were to provide a forum for interaction with the distinguished writers and to recognize and appreciate the accomplishments and skills of Naga writers.  She gave a brief motivational speech to the student attendees, emphasizing the importance of literature in a person’s life and how it may change, unite, and broaden one’s outlook on life. How reading literature may change a person and help them grow into a better person. “Literature is real-life science,” she continued. An individual can develop and preserve the stories that have been passed down to them through the use of stories.

The resource person Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, discussed the complexities of writing children’s books, drawing on her expertise and life experiences. She emphasized the importance of decolonizing the North-East region’s youth. As of right now, the majority of children’s authors typically create stereotypical, Eurocentric tales about the West. By integrating local scenery, images, and the culture of the people to tell indigenous stories, she emphasized how this art will empower children’s minds. It educates them about our distinctive cultural legacy. One can develop their moral principles and learn to respect and embrace their cultures and traditions by reading indigenous stories about their own land. It encourages empathy and cultural tolerance. It raises awareness of socio-political issues. It offers a mirror for self-perception and facilitates intercultural comprehension. Fosters interconnectedness and teaches the distinctive cultures of the Northeast.

She also emphasised how market pressures influence whose tales are heard in media’ market policies. Marketable stories are imperialist, feature foreign scenery, are Eurocentric, and are disconnected from reality. In order to help children rethink and value their own culture, it is therefore imperative that indigenous writers write openly about it.

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, and the student attendees were given the opportunity to interact. Many students learned about numerous facets of writing through the interaction. During the programme’s second session, the book review competition winners were congratulated and presented with books and certificates.

 The following individuals were the winners of the book review competition:

1st position: Munulu 5th semester

2nd  position: Thaorhulu Zholia 5th semester

3rd  position: Ujono Ringa 5th semester.

The program concluded with an expression of appreciation to each and every participant for the amazing outcome. 

September 28, 2024: Baptist College Kohima Literature Fest, 7th Edition 2024

A total of six (6) students from English department, Kohima College, with two teaching faculty attended the 7th Edition of BCK Literature Fest on 28th Sept. 2024 organised by the Department of English, Baptist College Kohima on the theme “Literary Mosaic: Connecting Art and Literature”. Workshops on Academic Writing and Creative Writing were conducted with Dr. Adenuo Shirat Luikham (Educator, Illustrator and Painter) and Ms. Asano Zashu (Visiting faculty, CUE Academy) as resource persons. A talk on “Images and Sounds as Memory Keepers” was also held with founder of TakeOne Production Kohima, Ms. Sesino Yhoshu, as the resource person. The participants from Kohima College, Department of English were accompanied by faculty incharges- Ms. Diezeno Tase and Dr. Medongunuo Ngone, Assistant Professors from Department of English, Kohima College Kohima. 

July 9, 2024: Drop in Discourse: Life & Works of Dr BR Ambedkar

A lecture was conducted by Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu, Asst. Professor, Dept. of English on 9th July 2024 for BA 5th semester Honours students in Room No.3. Mr. Chiangmong Khiamniungan, doctoral candidate, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad was the speaker. He presented the remarkable life and inspiring work of Dr. B R Ambedkar, providing an outline of the deeply inegalitarian caste context of his life-work and the significance of his ‘subaltern’ – audacity to think and talk. A brief discussion on the central idea of his concept of democracy, not simply as a political form of government, but as a social way of life, indeed as a way of perceiving, thinking about, and acting towards as free and equal human beings, will be given. 

July 3, 2024: Orientation Programme for BA 1st Semester students under FYUGP

The Department of English conducted an Orientation programme for BA 1st semester students- English Honours  on 3rd July 2024 in Room No. 3. All the faculty members of the department and students of BA 1st semester English Major attended the programme. The objective of the orientation programme was to orient the students about the nature, course and structure of FYUGP syllabus. 

Ms. Sungjeminla, Associate Professor, Department of English presented a powerpoint presentation and brief the students about the structure of the course, emphasized the importance of attendance percentage requirement and highlighted the guidelines of university pattern of examinations- internal and external assessment. 

Followed by introductory session and selection of students for Mr. & Miss Fresher Kohima College 2024.

April 15, 2024: Departmental Activity Cum Picnic organised by the English Department

The Department of English, Kohima College, conducted a departmental activity cum picnic on 15th April 2024. Participants consisted of the teaching faculty of the English Department and the B.A. English Hons students of 6th Semester.The departmental activity in the form of extension service was carried out at Government Middle School, Kruoliezou. The following activities were conducted:

  1. Interaction between the Faculty of the English Department, KCK, and the teachers of the Middle School, Kruoliezou.
  2. The 6th Semester students were divided into teams and assigned a classroom each. The teams conducted activities such as games, one-on-one interaction, teaching sessions, etc.
  3. Sweets and stationeries were distributed to the students.

The outcome of the extension service:

  1. In the interaction with the staff of the middle school, it was learned that most of the school students were house helps. The teachers shared the various challenges faced by the school.
  2. The English Department, KCK, unanimously decided to consider the adoption of the Government Middle School, Kruoliezou. The details of the same or plan of action will be chalked out in a meeting soon.

The extension service was followed by a picnic at Doulo Garden followed by a luncheon at Pahar Restaurant. Taking the final semester students out of the confines of classroom teaching for recreation in the form of a picnic cum extension service or educational exposure trip is an annual tradition of the English Department. The event was sponsored by the English Department. In conclusion, it was a fun filled and productive day. The exchange provided a learning experience for all parties involved, especially for the outgoing 6th Semester English Hons students to practice the virtue of social service and to think about their career choices as they step out of the protective undergraduate college environment.

1st  November, 2023: Naga Writers Speak – 8th Series

The 8th Naga Writers Speak was held on the 1st of November 2023 at 10 AM in the Kohima College conference hall. The speaker for this event was Dr. Neikehienuo Mepfhü-o, Assistant Professor, Dept of Functional English, Kohima College, Kohima and author. 

The subject of Dr. Mepfhü-o’s lecture was ‘Writing Social Issues in Fiction’ The objective of the annual Naga Writers Speak is to foster interest in Naga literature and its practitioners in the form of writers, critics and academics in the hope that students will be motivated to do read, write and do research in literature. In all 30 students and 11 faculty members were present. Feedback from the students were positive with a request for future events.

15th & 16th September, 2023: Nagaland Theatre Festival, RCEMPA, Jotsoma

19 students enrolled in the 3rd Semester General Elective paper on Text and Performance attended the Nagaland Theatre Festival at the Regional Centre for Excellence in Music and Performing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma. The 2-day theatre festival featured a stage performance on the first day and a one day theatre workshop on the second day. 

The objective of this activity was to expose the students to the practical aspects of theatrical production through the workshop and to allow them to witness an actual theatre performance. 

Dr. Theyiesinuo Keditsu was sent by the department to chaperone and supervise the students for the two days.  For all the students, both parts of the festival was a first in their lives. The department received very positive feedback from the students. Few expressed a new found interest in theatre and found the skills they learnt during the workshop would be useful for staging productions of their own.

20th April, 2023: Department of English Organised the “7 Naga Writers Speak”

The 7th Naga Writers Speak was held on the 20th of April, 2023 at 11 AM in the Kohima College conference hall. The speaker for this event was Dr. Kevileno Sakhrie, Retd. Associate Professor, Dept of English, Kohima College, Kohima and eminent Literary Critic. The 7th series was supposed to be held in 2022 but had to be deferred due to COVID related delays. 

The subject of Dr. Sakhrie’s lecture was ‘Anthologizing Naga Writings’. The objective of the annual Naga Writers Speak is to foster interest in Naga literature and its practitioners in the form of writers, critics and academics in the hope that students will be motivated to do read, write and do research in literature. 

In all 36 students and 10 faculty members were present. Feedback from the students were positive with a request for future events.