Monalisa Changkija

Last updated

Monalisa Changkija
Born2 March 1960
Jorhat, Assam, India
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • poet
NationalityIndian
Education Hindu College, Delhi

Monalisa Changkija is an Indian journalist and poet from Nagaland. She is the founding editor and publisher of the daily newspaper Nagaland Page . She was a member of the Working Group on Women's Empowerment in the Indian National Planning Commission.

Contents

Life

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija was born in Jorhat, Assam on 2 March 1960. [1] Her family belongs to the Ao Naga community. [2]

She attended school in Jorhat and Kohima, Nagaland. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Hindu College, Delhi, followed by a master's degree from Delhi University. [1]

Changkija married Bendangtoshi Longkümer. She has two daughters. [3] Her husband died in 2017. [4]

Career

Changkija began her career as a journalist with the Nagaland Times in 1985. She wrote a column, "The State of Affairs", for this paper, and another titled "Of Roses and Thorns" for the weekly paper Ura Mail. Both the papers were based in Dimapur. [1]

During the long-running insurgency in Nagaland, Changkija began to write poetry and short stories to protest the violence, and to criticise the condition of society that led to the unrest. Changkija's writings put her in grave risk from the militants. Her editor at the Ura Mail was murdered in 1992. Changkija's poem Not be dead was written to honour his memory. [3]

Changkija founded the Nagaland Page in 1999. Focussing on issues affecting the state of Nagaland, she upset both the state government and the militants. An article published in her paper titled "State is a reality and sovereignty is a myth" led to demands from the terrorists that she disclose the author's name. When she refused, she was threatened with retribution. [5]

In 2004, bombing at Dimapur's Hong Kong market resulted in the deaths of hundreds. Changkija's impassioned Child of Cain was printed soon after. [3]

Changkija's 2014 book Cogitating for a Better Deal was banned by the Ao Senden, an organisation that claimed to be a statutory apex judiciary body. They accused her of making false allegations against it. In particular, they objected to her statement that it was a non-governmental organisation rather than a mandated arbitrator in Ao tribal affairs. [2]

Selected works

Poetry

Non-fiction

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagaland</span> State in northeastern India

Nagaland is a state in the north-eastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma) to the east. Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur. The state has an area of 16,579 square kilometres (6,401 sq mi) with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 Census of India, making it one of the smallest states of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Northeast India</span> Ongoing militancy in Northeast India

The Insurgency in Northeast India involves multiple separatist and jihadist militant groups operating in some of India's northeastern states, which are connected to the rest of India by the Siliguri Corridor, a strip of land as narrow as 14.29 miles (23.00 km) wide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talimeren Ao</span> Indian footballer (1918–1998)

Talimeren Ao was an Indian footballer and physician from Nagaland. He is best known as the captain of the India national football team in their first ever match after independence. One of the most famous Nagas, he was a figurehead of India's football history, and his name is resonant in the collective memory of the people. He played domestic club football for Mohun Bagan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimapur</span> City and municipality in Nagaland, India

Dimapur is the largest city and municipality in the Indian state of Nagaland. As of 2024, the municipality had a population of 172000. The city is the main gateway and commercial centre of Nagaland. Located near the border with Assam along the banks of the Dhansiri River. Its main railway station is the second busiest station in Northeast India.

The Aos are a major Naga ethnic group native to Mokokchung District of Nagaland in Northeast India. Their main territory is from Tsüla (Dikhu) Valley in the east to Tsürang (Disai) Valley in the west in Mokokchung District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rani Gaidinliu</span> Indian freedom fighter (1915 – 1993)

Gaidinliu Pamei popularly known as Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and freedom fighter, political leader who led a revolt against British rule in India. At the age of 13, she joined the Heraka religious movement of her cousin Haipou Jadonang. The movement later turned into a political movement seeking to drive out the British from Manipur. Within the Heraka faith, she came to be considered an incarnation of the Goddess Cherachamdinliu. Gaidinliu was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British rulers. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937, and promised to pursue her release. Nehru gave her the title of "Rani" ("Queen"), and she gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu.

Nagaland Page is a daily English newspaper published from Dimapur in the India state of Nagaland. It was founded in 1999 and edited and published by Monalisa Changkija.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temsüla Ao</span> Indian writer (1945–2022)

Temsüla Ao was an Indian poet, fiction writer, and ethnographer. She was a professor of English at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) from where she retired in 2010. She served as the director of the North East Zone Cultural Centre between 1992 and 1997 on deputation from NEHU. She was awarded the Padma Shri award for her contribution to literature and education. Her book Laburnum For My Head received the Sahitya Akademi Award for English writing in the short story category. Her works have been translated into Assamese, Bengali, French, German, Hindi, and Kannada.

P. Shilu Ao was an Indian politician who was involved in the negotiations leading to the creation of Nagaland, in the north-eastern part of India, as one of the states and territories of India in December 1963. Ao then served as the first Chief Minister of Nagaland until August 1966. Ao played a part in persuading the Indian Government and the Lok Sabha to grant Nagaland separate statehood but was not able to reconcile many Naga nationalists who regarded him and his party, as stooges of the central government.

Patricia Mukhim is an Indian social activist, writer, journalist and the editor of Shillong Times, known for her social activism. A recipient of honours such as Chameli Devi Jain award, ONE India award, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry FLO award, Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity award, Siva Prasad Barooah National award and North East Excellence award, she was honored by the Government of India, in 2000, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

The 2015 Dimapur mob lynching was a case of mob lynching that took place in Dimapur, Nagaland, India, on 5 March 2015. A mob of about 7000–8000 people broke into a prison, dragged a man detained under accused of rape out of the Dimapur Central Jail, paraded him naked and beat him to death in a case of vigilante justice.

Natwar Thakkar, popularly known as Natwar Bhai, was an Indian social worker who worked in Nagaland. He came from Maharashtra but migrated to Nagaland for social work at the age of 23. He founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlang village in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. Because of his efforts to spread Gandhian philosophy in Nagaland and his social work, he was known as "Nagaland's Gandhi".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phulchand Sethi</span> Indian writer

Phulchand Sethi was a social worker, philanthropist and businessman from Dimapur, Nagaland in Northeast India. He was amongst the first proponents of Jainism in Nagaland. He was awarded the Commendation Certificate by the Governor of Nagaland, Lallan Prasad Singh, on 15 August 1975 for Social and Humanitarian activities. In 1959, he established the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce. Sethi could speak many local dialects such as Angami, Sümi, Lotha, Kuki, Manipuri and Assamese. He died on 2 October 1976 in Dimapur.

The Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Mediaperson is an Indian journalism award named after Chameli Devi Jain, an Indian independence activist who became the first Jain woman to go to prison during India's independence struggle. The award was instituted in 1980 by The Media Foundation and is given to women in the field of journalism. According to Business Standard, the award is "perhaps India's longest running media award for women".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahina K. K.</span> Indian journalist

Shahina K. K., alternatively KK Shahina or Shahina Nafeesa, is a veteran Indian journalist who has worked across print and broadcast media to shed light on issues such as gender, human rights, and marginalized communities, along with the injustices they face. She is a Senior Editor Outlook Magazine, and a contributor for The Washington Post. She is among the four winners of the CPJ International Press Freedom Awards this year from different continents all over the world. She is the fourth Indian to achieve this recognition. She was conferred with the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons in 2011. She is also a participant as an activist in the Kiss of Love movement against moral policing in India. Based in the state of Kerala, she is frequently cited by various mainstream media networks on issues related to gender equality and women's rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalie Kevichüsa</span> Naga journalist

Thechazelhu Kevichüsa Meru, commonly known as Chalie Kevichüsa, was an Indian journalist from Nagaland who was also involved in politics. He was the executive editor and publisher of Ura Mail from June 1976 until his assassination in September 1992.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation was formed in 2008 after the Naga Peace Convention organised by the Naga Shisha Hoho in Dimapur. At the start, it had 14 members. Wati Aier is the founding-convenor for the association. It has emerged as a major force in the Indo-Naga peace process outside the negotiation room between the Indian state and Naga nationalist groups.

The following is a list of articles relating to the Indian state of Nagaland, sorted in alphabetical order.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Raimedhi 2014, p. 19.
  2. 1 2 Bhaumik 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Raimedhi 2014, p. 20.
  4. Nagaland Post 2017.
  5. Pisharoty 2013.
  6. The Hindu 2010.
  7. Nagaland Post 2014.

Sources