Book Review: ‘A Kite of Farewells’ by O. Jungio

Book Title: A Kite of Farewells: Stories from Nagaland
Author: O. Jungio
Publisher: Rupa Publications India
Number of Pages: 160
ISBN: 978-9361565908
Date Published: May 5, 2025
Price: INR 249

Book Review

Ovungthung Jungio’s “A Kite of Farewells: Stories from Nagaland ” is a haunting and evocative collection that explores the theme of departure through the lens of everyday objects and the memories they carry. Each story is delicately tethered to a physical artifact-a casserole, a chair, a kite-that becomes a silent witness to the lives and losses of its owners. Jungio’s prose is lyrical and immersive, drawing readers into the quiet theatre of memory where nostalgia, grief, and resilience intermingle. The preface itself sets the tone, promising not only stories of sorrow but also celebrations of enduring human bonds.

The opening story, “Fire,” exemplifies Jungio’s skill in blending the mundane with the surreal. What begins as a simple tale of a forgotten casserole and a rain-soaked journey quickly transforms into a chilling, almost folkloric encounter with the supernatural. The protagonist’s experiences in a deserted Naga village, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with ghostly figures, showcase the author’s ability to weave suspense and psychological depth into his narratives. Jungio’s attention to local detail-the food, the language, the customs-grounds the story in a rich cultural context, making the supernatural elements all the more striking.

Throughout the collection, Jungio masterfully evokes the rapidly changing landscape of contemporary Naga life, where tradition and modernity collide and old ghosts linger beneath the surface of daily existence. The translated terms and cultural references included in the book not only enrich the stories but also invite readers from outside the region to engage more deeply with the world Jungio portrays. His characters are vividly drawn, their emotional journeys rendered with empathy and nuance, whether they are confronting personal loss or grappling with the weight of collective memory.

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“A Kite of Farewells” ultimately stands as a testament to the power of storytelling to preserve what is fleeting and to find beauty even in the face of absence. Jungio’s stories soar, much like the titular kite, carrying with them the ache of farewells and the hope of new beginnings. This collection will resonate with anyone who has ever loved, lost, or longed for home, marking Jungio as a distinctive and compassionate new voice in Indian fiction.

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