Temjen Imna Along and other dignitaries at the launching of “Khekho: The Tiger Challenger,” on Saturday. (NP)
State minister of higher education and tourism Temjen Imna Along released an oral biography—”Khekho: The Tiger Challenger”— by Nokho N and co-author Dili, with a foreword by Prof. Dr. Xavier Mao, at Kohima on Saturday.
Speaking at the launching programme, Imna Along expressed congratulated author Nokho and co-author Dili, saying the book “embodies folklore, reflecting the thoughts and ways of our ancestors and our families in a truly indigenous manner.” He encouraged everyone to embrace and cultivate such thought processes.
Acknowledging the advancements in technology, he lamented the decline in reading habits. Imna Along emphasized that the knowledge he gained over the years was largely due to his reading. “While people are increasingly dependent on technology, it is vital to instil the habit of reading books in the younger generations,” Imna said.
In her introductory remarks, author Nokho N shared her joy in bringing the book to life in an intimate setting. She noted that the book’s concept was born in 2019. Dili, the co-author expressed his desire to honour his great-grandfather, Dili Khekho, by sharing his extraordinary story. “I want a small book about my great-grandfather Dili Khekho; I don’t want his legacy to fade into forgotten history,” Dili stated. This vision spurred the creation of “Khekho: The Tiger Challenger,” as Nokho reflected.
Highlighting an excerpt from the book, Nokho remarked, “Dili Khekho was a man who embraced his own surname, unshaken by peer pressure and fearless in challenging societal norms.”
“Khekho the Tiger challenger” is story of Dili in particular but this is also the story of Tiger’s intricate relationship with men travelling back a century back down the memory lane of ancestors of Mao Naga tribe.
In his brief note on the book, ADGP Sandeep Madhukar Tamgadge stated that the book has been a very professional piece. ADGP also highlighted the importance of transferring oral traditions from one generation down to other through ways of stories. None of the Naga Tribes have written scripts and so it becomes very important to rethink on carrying forward the traditional knowledge, Tamgadge added.
At the launching programme, co-author Dili Khekho proposed the vote of thanks and Thanksgiving prayer was offered by Mao Baptist Church, Kohima associate pastor George Ariiche.
