Monalisa Changkija

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija, an Indian journalist and poet from Nagaland, was born in Jorhat, Assam, on March 2, 1960, to the Ao Naga community. She pursued her education in Jorhat and Kohima before earning an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Hindu College, Delhi, followed by a master's degree from Delhi University. Changkija married Bendangtoshi Longkümer and has two daughters; her husband passed away in 2017.

Changkija began her journalism career at the Nagaland Times in 1985, writing columns such as "The State of Affairs" and "Of Roses and Thorns." During the insurgency in Nagaland, she转向了诗歌和短篇小说创作，以抗议暴力并批评社会状况。Her editor at Ura Mail was assassinated in 1992, prompting her to write the poem "Not be dead" in his honor.

In 1999, she founded Nagaland Page, a daily newspaper focusing on state issues, which incurred threats from both government and militants. Her 2004 poem "Child of Cain" followed a Dimapur bombing. Changkija's 2014 book, "Cogitating for a Better Deal," was banned by the Ao Senden group for criticizing them.

Awards include the Chameli Devi Jain Award in 2009 and the FICCI Women Achiever award in 2014. Her works include poetry collections and non-fiction, highlighting her contributions to journalism and literature despite facing significant risks.