Kohima: The BookHome in Kohima held a tribute for global music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton on September 12. Fans gathered in the mountain town to celebrate her dual legacy as a singer and a promoter of childhood literacy. She often highlighted her roots in Tennessee, which mirrored the affection many in Nagaland hold for their own home.
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995. This project has delivered over 300 million free books to children worldwide. The goal is simple: help kids build reading habits before they enter school. Parton once noted, "If I am remembered 100 years from now, I hope it will not be for looks but for books."
Local artist MJ Jamir headlined the event with a performance of Parton’s songs. Jamir gained fame in 2016 for her cover of Coat of Many Colours. She later described the song as the highlight of her musical career. Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, founder of The BookHome, organized the tribute to honor the woman known as the Book Lady. Yhome explained, "we were not going to pass on a chance to honour the Queen of music and reading."
The event featured live singing and a dedicated book reading session. Many attendees grew up listening to Parton’s tracks about rural life. Yhome said the tribute connected the people of Kohima to Parton’s own Smokey Mountain background. She witnessed the global outpouring of grief when the singer died, noting that the connection between music and literature remains a powerful force for Nagas.
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