Something Different in May! Two Books on Nagaland – Choose to read one or both

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For this months meeting we are doing something different. You are free to choose one of the following--or both--and we will discuss them both on the night:

Nagaland: A Journey to India’s Forgotten Frontier – Jonathan Glancey (Non Fiction)
And/Or
Bitter Wormwood – Easterine Kire (Fiction)

Nagaland: Nagaland has been fighting a secret, often brutal, war for independence for more than half a century. Portrayed either as a land of ruthless guerrillas or exotic natives, Nagaland is in fact a complex and divided region, with an incredible history. The breathtaking Naga hills take us to the offices of Adolf Hitler and Emperor Hirohito, via well-meaning colonialists and anthropologists, and one of the most important battles of the Second World War. Through extensive travels beyond the tourist zone, and through the voices of the Nagas he meets, and his family's links with the region, Johathan Glancey tells the true story of this forgotten land.

Bitter Wormwood: A young man has just been gunned down in cold blood - the latest casualty in the conflict that has brutalized the people of Nagaland, in the neglected northeastern corner of India. Rich in culture and history, "Bitter Wormwood" traces the story of one man's life from 1937 to 2007, offering poignant insight into the human cost behind the political headlines of one of India's most beautiful regions. In a gripping story that brings to life the processes that propel social change and transform communities, Easterine Kire skillfully renders the small incidents of Mose's childhood, his family, and the routines and rituals of traditional village life, painting an evocative picture of a peaceful way of life, now long-vanished. The coming of radio into Mose's family house marks the beginning of the changes that will connect them to the wider world. They learn of partition, independence, a land called America. Mose and his friends become involved in the Naga struggle for independence and are caught in a maelstrom of violence that ends up ripping communities apart.