An Exploration of Gender Discrimination and the Quest for Feministic Identity in Angami Culture in Easterine Kire’s A Terrible Matriarchy and Mari

Abstract

Nagaland is one of the significant political divisions of India, which is geographically divided into eight states. The cultures of India's northeastern states are distinctive. Each state is discrete regarding its custom, diverse culture, and language. As such, Nagaland, too, is rich and varied in cultural heritage, housing 16 distinct tribes, each with its lingo-African language. Extending the premise of social realism, this paper critically examines the fictional works of Easterine Kire, namely Mari and A Terrible Matriarchy. It brings out the social disparity and injustices meted out to the women's community of the Angami tribes. This research paper focuses on social injustice, matriarchal oppression, and sexual molestation as prevalent in the Angami tribal culture. This work ventures to spread awareness and educate the Angami tribal community on their enshrined prerogatives and the restitution of their emancipation in northeast India while unearthing some of the squalid working conditions of the tribal labour community. The novels Mari and A Terrible Matriarchy deal with social realism, the literary mode of choice in the nineteenth century. It also vividly portrays how the Nagaland community has been plundered and smeared by battle and bloodshed.