Books
COMING SOON : PENGUIN INDIA TO PUBLISH AWARD-WINNING NAGA WRITER VEIO POU’S STORY COLLECTION FROM THE NORTHEAST
The collection moves between village and city, past and present. Some stories draw on folk tales and local customs; others follow Nagas as they make their way through big cities, and others look at how modern life has reordered traditional northeastern society. At the heart of the book are ordinary people and the questions they carry – who they are, where they belong, and what they keep or lose as the world around them changes. Pou writes about these everyday lives with room for both tragedy and comedy.
Penguin India announces the acquisition of The Renegade, a collection of short stories by Veio Pou, award-winning writer and professor of English in Delhi University. Set in the northeast, the stories move between slice-of-life narratives and tales drawn from folklore and local customs, offering a vivid picture of the region’s cultural tapestry. The Renegade will be published under Penguin Eight, Penguin’s dedicate imprint for literature of the northeast India and will be released in December 2026.
The collection moves between village and city, past and present. Some stories draw on folk tales and local customs; others follow Nagas as they make their way through big cities, and others look at how modern life has reordered traditional northeastern society. At the heart of the book are ordinary people and the questions they carry – who they are, where they belong, and what they keep or lose as the world around them changes. Pou writes about these everyday lives with room for both tragedy and comedy.
Speaking on the book, author Veio Pou said, ‘This collection of stories grew from a set of ideas I’ve been grappling with for some time, mostly those related to the existential realities of individuals in society. Needless to say, it was a huge task to dwell on the everydayness of my characters as they navigate the maze of living in a multifaceted cultural landscape. But it was a rewarding experience of swinging from one subject to another, traversing time and distance.’
Karthik Venkatesh, Executive Editor, Penguin Random House India, said ‘Veio Pou’s is a unique voice, and this collection is likely to strike a chord with all lovers of good literature. The stories sparkle with good writing and unusual turns of phrase, and feature both tragedy and comedy, all narrated with great dexterity.’
Milee Ashwarya- Publisher & Group SVP, Adult Publishing Group, Penguin Random House India said, ‘The Renegade by Veio Pou is a spectacular collection of short stories from the North East, bringing to life the region’s rich folklore, myths and traditions. A perfect fit for Penguin Eight, our imprint for works from the region, the book offers readers a vivid glimpse into the lives and the world of the Naga community. I hope this remarkable collection is read and reviewed widely across the country.’
The Renegade will be published in December 2026 and will be available online and in all leading bookstores.