Nagaland-born writer Easterine Kire made it to the coveted list for her novel Spirit Nights. Spirit Nights, set in a village of animists, agriculturalists and hunters in the hills of Nagaland, begins with the warm bonding between a woman, Tola, and her grandson, Namu. Spiritual beliefs regulate the everyday living of the villagers, who recall and respect taboos at every juncture. Taboos guide the actions of the Nagas and also bind them as a community.

Speaking from Kohima,  Easterine said,  ‘I was very surprised to hear from my friend Bijoykumar Tayenjem Singh that my book, Spirit Nights has won the Sahitya Akademi award for English fiction 2024. The book was originally published in 2022 by a UK publisher called Barbican. The Indian rights were bought by Simon and Schuster India. Earlier this same novel won the FICCI award in 2023
 ‘I am very happy and very grateful to God and friends and family whose love made it possible’, she humbly stated.

Sahitya Akademi announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 21 languages on Wednesday where eight books of poetry, three novels, two short stories, three Essays, three literary Criticism, one play and one research have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024.

The award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and an amount of Rs.1,00,000 towards cash content each will be presented to the awardees on 8th March 2025 in New Delhi.  

Easterine Kire has also received awards like the Tata Literary Award, Sahitya Academi Award and Hindu Award. This is the second time her work has been recognised for Sahitya Akademi Award. 

On 21st December her new book ‘freerain’ is getting launched in Kohima.

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