Meghalaya recently saw two of its publications, “The Tunes of Kongthong” and “When a Huro Sings” selected for display at the NBT (National Book Trust) exhibit at the Bologna Book Fair in Italy last month, a delayed press release said today.
“The Tunes of Kongthong” is written by Auswyn Winter Japang and illustrated by Mario K Pathaw. “When a Huro Sings” is written by Nandan Joshi and illustrated by Imlijungshi Ltr. They were produced through the The Forgotten Folklore Project, which was introduced by the Sauramandala Foundation.
Storywell Books, the publisher of both works, nominated these books for the Bologna Book Fair to represent the diversity and richness of Meghalaya’s folklore on an international stage.
Lanu Tsudir, who spearheads the Forgotten Folklore Project, reflects on this remarkable achievement, “We are filled with excitement and anticipation for the future of The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) and its impact on early childhood education and cultural preservation in Meghalaya and beyond.”
“We are looking forward to the continued recognition and validation of Meghalaya’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage,” she added.
Through the project, 45 contextual storybooks have been curated from the three regions of Meghalaya, highlighting traditional tales, folklore and practices. This initiative not only aims to preserve these stories but also ensures that they are passed down to future generations, fostering a sense of pride and connection to their cultural roots.
“We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders, partners, and communities to continue curating contextual storybooks, fostering pride and connection to cultural roots, and enriching the early childhood education landscape in Meghalaya and beyond,” Tsudir said.
