Meghalaya's Forgotten Heritage is Showcased at the Italy Book Fair

Discover Meghalaya's rich cultural heritage showcased at Italy Book Fair. Explore "The Tunes of Kongthong" & "When a Huro Sings" highlighting folklore diversity.

on May 09, 2024

Meghalaya's Forgotten Heritage is Showcased at the Italy Book Fair | Frontlist

Meghalaya's publications "The Tunes of Kongthong" and "When a Huro Sings" were chosen for display at the NBT (National Book Trust) show at the Bologna Book Fair in Italy last month, according to a delayed press announcement issued today.

Auswyn Winter Japang wrote "The Tunes of Kongthong" and Mario K Pathaw drew it. "When a Huro Sings" was written by Nandan Joshi and illustrated by Imlijungshi Ltr. The Sauramandala Foundation initiated The Forgotten Folklore Project, which resulted in their creation.

Storywell Books, the publishers of both works, nominated them for the Bologna Book Fair to showcase the diversity and depth of Meghalayan folklore on a global scale.

Lanu Tsudir, the Forgotten Folklore Project's director, muses on this incredible 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 stated.

The initiative curated 45 contextual storybooks from Meghalaya's three regions, covering traditional tales, folklore, and rituals. This project not only seeks to conserve these memories, but also to ensure that they are passed down to future generations, instilling pride and a sense of 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 stated.