KPC president, Alice Yhoshü and the author of the book ‘A country with no home’ Lozaan Khumbah during the release programme at Kohima on July 26. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 26
PenThrill’s 91st publication ‘A country with no home’ written by Lozaan Khumbah and published by Pen Thrill Publication House was released on July 26 at The Book Home, Kohima. A collection of 40 poems, the book explores friendship, home and belonging in the face of rapidly changing social political realities.
President of Kohima Press Club, Alice Yhoshü released the book. Congratulating the author, Yhoshü shared her observations of the book stating that the author writes with ease and simplicity, and conveys his thoughts and emotions in such a way that one can immediately engage and relate to.
“His poems are stark, honest, alive, current and somewhat desolate too,” stated Yhoshü adding that his poems tug at the heart, and that it has a way of capturing the essence of fleeting moments and turning them into assertive and soulful verses. She encouraged the author to continue writing, and wished him the very best.
The author, Khumbah in his note stated that the poems were written during the course of his study in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi from 2011 penned as ‘personal reflections or as responses’ to the events around him at that time.
A third of the poems, as stated were written during the COVID-19 pandemic detailing the enormous suffering of the time, particularly the poor who bore the brunt of the severe lockdown.
From the hills of Tamenglong, Manipur, he studied in JNU for Master’s and PhD in Geography. It was informed that his poem ‘If you come to JNU’ was published in the book ‘JNU stories: The first 50 years.’
Khumbah expressed hope that the readers can relate to the thoughts and sentiments, and will encourage people to think boldly, speak freely including the bitter truth to those in power, and to labour for a society where no one will feel that they do not belong.
In a conversation with Bauna Panmei, Assistant Professor, History Department, Patkai Christian College, the author shared his journey on how he began writing poems.
