Nagaland

The diaryarrived addressed to me, bearing a message:
We live forever through ourstories. Tell ours.

And so began the author's journeyinto the life and legends of the Naga a forgotten people living in the farnorth-east of India, struggling to survive in the modern world.

An extraordinarily powerful and evocative literarywork that traverses new ground in the hinterland between biography andmythology.

Nagaland is the story of Augustine and of theNaga people. With sensitively poetic prose, Doherty deftly draws the readerinto worlds of parallel realities. The love story, desperate and damned,destined for tragedy; forged and upheld against the wishes of family and thedictates of culture, with a backdrop of violence and reprisals amidst thebrutality of communal conflict. Alongside this is the telling of Augustine'schildhood story, growing up in the beautiful mountain state of Nagaland where the traditional way of life, loyalties and beliefs collidewith modern imperatives that, for many, lead inexorably to poverty,dislocation, drug addiction, disease and despair.

Seamlessly woventhrough each story, Naga legends and myths connect these disparate worlds, thesource of profound insights that are simultaneously confronting andtranscendent. Poignant and profound, the reader is left with a yearningnostalgia for a past where eternal truths prevailed, to be gleaned from ancientfables and sages; where a people lived in communities richly endowed withcultural and spiritual certainties, and were valued members of large family andtribal networks. Except, of course, if you choose not to follow the rules...

'A few years ago a hand written diary from Nagaland arrived in Ben Doherty's mailbox, 'Its pages...overfilled, and seemingly without order, with drawings of birds and mountains and flowers...and scrawled verses of poetry'. The poems were written in Tangkhul, one of Nagaland's many dialects. The final words were in English and read: 'We live forever through our stories. Tell ours.' In writing Nagaland, Doherty has managed to do that splendidly.' - Erich Mayer, ArtsHub

"Delightfully engrossing page-turner that provides a fascinating insight into Nagaland, its rich tapestry of legends, history and culture. Ben Doherty's intimate understanding of the Naga people is evident in the flair and passion of his writing. A riveting and poignant read."
- Nim Gholkar, author

"Ben Doherty gives a fascinating insight into the many myths, stories and culture of its people and lands."
- Bev Beeson, Warcry

"With echoes of Rushdie and Garcia Marquez, Nagaland takes the reader on a lyrical exploration of person and place. This enchanting work of fiction explores a lesser known corner of India through the protagonists' gripping and wondrous journey, while revealing Doherty as a writer with serious talent."
- Nick McKenzie, The Age

"I have come across some extraordinary real life stories of inspiration, love, and tragedy with my travels in India as a journalist. But NAGALAND is exceptional. Ben's skilful storytelling engages emotionally in the life of an amazing man, his defiance for the sake of love, and his devotion to place and to culture. In my opinion, it is a must read."
- Som Patidar, journalist

"Ben Doherty has found a universal Romeo and Juliet love story in one of the remotest and least-known arts of the world, and tells it beautifully."
- Hamish McDonald, world editor, The Saturday Paper and author of Demokrasi: Democracy in Indonesia and The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dirubhai Ambani

Ben Doherty is an award-winning foreign correspondent, video journalist, and photographer, specialising in international and immigration reportage. He has reported from more than 20 countries for Australian and global news organisations, including The Guardian, The Observer, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Channel 4 in the UK, and the ABC. His work has been recognised by Amnesty International, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and the United Nations Association of Australia. Ben has won three Walkley Awards for his international, human rights, and immigration reporting. Doherty is currently based in Sydney as an immigration correspondent for The Guardian. His work covers migration, refugee and asylum issues in Australia and across southeast Asia.

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