The Meghalaya government today hosted the launch of award-winning author Bah Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih’s latest literary work, The Distaste of the Earth, at Meghalayan Age – The Store in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
The event, titled ‘The Art of Storytelling’, drew a diverse audience of literature enthusiasts, government officials, and cultural aficionados.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Dr. Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of the Government of Meghalaya; Shubhi Surana, Editor at Penguin Random House India; and esteemed local authors and cultural figures.
Dr. Nongkynrih who thanked the guests for being a part of this special occasion said that his book, The Distaste of the Earth will offer the readers, moments of entertainment and contemplation, about our relationship with nature, our responsibilities towards one another, and finally, about the hidden costs of our choices.
He said that the book that looks both to a mythic past and contemporary present, invites the readers to embark on a journey of reflection and discovery.
Dr. Vijay Kumar expressed his admiration for Dr. Nongkynrih’s contributions, congratulating the author for his wonderful work.
Reflecting on the Meghalayan Age – The Store, he stated, “I am very happy that we have been able to create this space; and we are making this space into this kind of a live space for art, craft, literature, music. A number of events keep happening here and the vibrancy of the space is something that makes everyone feel happy and proud.”
The Distaste of the Earth is a masterful art of fiction that traverses the themes of love, vengeance and man’s dominion over nature. The novel plays exquisitely with questions of earthly authority and godly ordinance, compelling us to think about our anthropocentric views about the natural world.
The launch of the book was a grand success with book lovers and culture connoisseurs gathering to rejoice in the pages and stories of Dr. Nongkynrih’s new novel.
Born and brought up in Sohra, Dr. Nongkynrih is a celebrated writer known for his poetry, prose, and dramas in Khasi and English. His latest work, The Distaste of the Earth, adds to his impressive collection, which includes the forthcoming epic novel Funeral Nights (Westland/And Other Stories), The Yearning of Seeds: Poems (HarperCollins), Time’s Barter: Haiku and Senryu (HarperCollins), and Around the Hearth: Khasi Legends (Penguin).
Dr. Nongkynrih’s works have been featured in renowned publications such as Planet, The New Welsh Review, PEN International, The Literary Review, The Oxford Anthology of Writings from North East India, and more.
His accolades include the North East Poetry Award (2004), the Veer Shankar Shah-Raghunath Shah National Award (2008), Tagore Fellowship (2018), The Bangalore Review June Jazz Award (2021), and The Sparrow Literary Award (2022).
