Book Review: A Naga Odyssey, Visier's Long Way Home (by Visier Meyasetsu Sanyü with Richard Broome)
A few of us were there from '100 School Project', a volunteer-based charity organisation that my partner and I have recently joined as we feel for their cause, which is basically to support children's learning in poor countries (you can visit our website for more information if you're curious: 100schoolproject.org).
Our President/Co-Founder, Alan Wong, was invited as one of the guest speakers to talk about '100 School Project'. At the end of the day, he was given Visier's book as a thank-you gift. I was really looking forward to borrow it.
Even though I'm not much of a history non-fiction reader and I don't know much about politics, I love a good read and I can only comment based on what I gained personally from it. Nothing more, and nothing technical. And here I am, writing my very first book review, on the Naga Odyssey.
This book brought me to tears numerous times. His relationship with his brother, Perhicha, and sister, Jakieno, and how much everyone in the family really looked after each other in Nagaland; when Visier, Pari and their three children moved to Australia, at first just to wait until the situation got calmer in Nagaland and later for better education and life for their children; and most of all about slowly losing the roots and tradition.
Every time I hear this sort of story, I find myself thinking that it has similarity to this history or that history or more other history; I couldn't help but wonder, "Why do people do that (try to destroy a culture by enforcing their own, burn homes and villages, kill each other)?"
Then I tried to find some 'history' by looking it up on Google. Yes, they had their reasons, and these reasons have other sort of similar reasons, and they are connected to different other things, and so on... And then it all got tangled up and complicated with the powerful mix of religions, culture, philosophy, and so on... What will happen to humanity if this keeps going?
I could not imagine what the people in Nagaland had gone through. This book has made me see another part of reality (if we can call this life that) I have not seen; and it had made me feel sad and proud of the people I have never met and do not know. The fear, trauma, longing, courage, survival, and most importantly, generousity and forgiveness.
"All needed to admit error to begin the 'healing of the wounds and resentments in the hearts of our people. No one can claim to completely blameless,'" said Niketu Iralu (Visier's uncle), during a seminar at Wokha. This act to promote healing and forgiveness took years to achieve, but they did it.
What I have also enjoyed reading was how Visier wrote about his extensive travel opportunities that had brought him to meet many people from different parts of the world. It expanded his point of views and he found ways to connect and took the positive out of various sources, such as from his cousin, his Sami best friend, or from Scotland. So this book is definitely more than about Nagaland and I'm sure more can relate, especially those of us who are living away from our home country.
Visier, in his own way, has combined his ancestral tradition with Christianity and yoga, which I admire. Spirituality, healing and community are always within and surrounding him throughout his journey. Despite his struggle and difficulty, he continues to contribute to his surrounding and always remembers his home.
I wish him and his family safe and happiness for all time, and for the Healing Garden to flourish.
I hope more people will read this book and can also appreciate the invaluable value of forgiveness.
-s$t-
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