The Department of English, Baptist College, Kohima organised the 4th edition of Lecture series namely “Lecture Series 4” on 31st March, 2026. Students were divided into two groups, the 4th and 6th Semester at the Rivenburgs Memorial Chapel and the 2nd Semester at Room no 8 with resource persons Huthuka Sumi (Writer & Photographer) and Ms. Kevilenuo Miachieo, Writer & Educator
In the lecture programme chaired by Ms. Rozila Sangtam, Resource person, Ms. Kevilenuo Miachieo, spoke on the topic, “The Inner World of Writing: Why we write and how it shapes us.”
Miachieo spoke on the evolutionary process on the art of writing, with the initial purpose of writing being focussed solely on record keeping. Later, the role of writing transformed to selection and reflection of ideas, and sequential information. She apprised how reflection of thoughts and ideas deepens and transforms the way of expression. She spoke on how the art of writing generates an understanding and connection with oneself, serves as a medium for healing, evokes catharsis, encapsulates memories, and serves clarity and self- discovery through inner dialogue.
Miachieo shared that writing shapes and deepens the core of an individual in the way we think and understand of who we are becoming. Writing thus, becomes an act of reclamation and rediscovery of one’s thoughts and feelings.
The lecture at Rivenburgs Memorial Chapel was chaired by Dr. Sentinaro, Asst. Professor, Department of English. Resource person Huthuka Sumi (Writer & Photographer), spoke on the topic “Stories and Agents of Self Discovery & Empathetic POVs”
Sumi began his lecture by reading an excerpt from the prologue of his book Giants. He shared how in the story the protagonist Kato, a mute 13 year old boy, struggling with self-doubt is chosen to be a storyteller. Sumi added that there is a decline in readership in this age of AI, sharing why stories matter. In connection, he points out how our lives are structured by storytelling, that “we are the stories we tell”, and we are all struggling to tell our origional story, stating – our identity is much more than communal or tribal construct; sharing his belief in finding one’s identity in relation to the rest of the world. Sumi talks about the art of reading saying “books forces us to stop” adding that it prepares us to retrospect upon our life. That, if we want to enjoy the books we read, we need to have empathy and in doing so we realise that other people have it worse than us. Ending his talk with the message that we need empathy and kindness, starting with ourselves.
The lecture ended with a question and answer session, with Sumi answering questions about publishing, writing , sharing insights into creating and structuring a book. Answering a question, he pointed out that editing a book multiple times if needed, before sending it to the publisher is pivotal .
