NAGALAND: REVIVING THE DYING ART OF READING

At Nepi Tsekwhe, Merama Khel in Kigwema village, brothers Akho Phira, 25 and Thepfukelie Phira, 33 have set up an open community library - the investments in setting it up being self-funded. The initiative is a personal undertaking to create a learning space, generate awareness and hopefully build an informal learning hub garnering people from all walks of life.
“The library was initiated to revive the dying art of reading, to make books easily accessible and available, to drive positive action and change and to engage youths more meaningfully in the process of community development,” says Akho Phira. “Such spaces can be utilised as grounds for both the young and old to deliberate and pass down the rich oral knowledge which is the knowledge base of the Nagas, now that Morungs in villages are becoming obsolete and under utilised with the pursuit of modern institutional educations,” says Phira.
At present, the brothers are seeking sponsorships to subscribe to newspapers in 2 mediums - English & Tenyidie, journals in local languages, about local communities and appropriate reads for children.
“To make community members realize and value the importance of informal spaces for creative learning and fruitful engagements. To build a group of likeminded people with the aim to amplify the initiative and expand to other communities and locations and to further proliferate the interest of reading which is why the library is working towards offering inclusive reading materials for its users,” adds Akho Phira.
Once a traditional place of gathering and learning, Nepi Tsekwhe today, has been revived to strike a balance between tradition and modernity, with the hope to retain the best of both worlds through books. (Morung Express News | August 3, 2021)

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