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

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Nagaland is a landlocked 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">Naga people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

Nagas are various ethnic groups native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. The groups have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority of population in the Indian state of Nagaland and Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar (Burma); with significant populations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India; Sagaing Region and Kachin State in Myanmar.

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

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<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 2011, the municipality had a population of 122,834. 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 District of Dimapur is bifurcated into two other districts; namely, Chumoukedima and Niuland.

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.

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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