Decolonising Narratives in Easterine Kire’s Mari: A Postcolonial Analysis of Naga Literature

Abstract

This article examines the decolonising narratives in Easterine Kire’s novel Mari, viewing it in the broader context of Naga literature and postcolonial studies. Through a close examination of Kire’s storytelling techniques, incorporation of oral traditions, and depiction of the Battle of Kohima, this article demonstrates that Mari is an effective means of recovering Naga history and defying dominant Western narratives of World War II. This paper highlights that Kire’s work helps in the preservation of Naga cultural heritage while also engaging with global discourse on war, memory and indigenous identity through decolonial and postcolonial theoretical frameworks. This article places Mari as an essential contribution to the decolonisation of literature, presenting new understandings of historical events and a paradigm for integrating indigenous narrative techniques.