Volume II Special Issue IV April 2022

Name of Author : S Abinaya

Title of the paper : Social Obligations and Gender Inequality in Eastrine Kire`s A Terrible Matriarchy

Abstract: North East Literature refers literary works of the north eastern regions. The native, vernacular literature of North East India is very rich. North East Literature consists of a body of work in a different language and genres changing from oral literature to literature written in colonial languages. The North East is a colonial construct but they do exist with unique significance and tradition that must not be overlooked. North East Literature has gained universal acclaim within a short span of time by creating notable works and Eastrine Kire is one of the few writers from North East region who has received both national and international recognition for her works. Kire`s writings are mostly concerned with the traumatic experiences and sufferings of the inhabitants. Kire`s A Terrible Matriarchy is about three generations of Naga women grandmother Vibano, mother Nino and granddaughter Lieno. The novel shows how women`s lives interlace closely and contrarily defining them as individuals and their generational differences. The gender segregation and the rights of men as opposed to women run throughout the novel. The subtle but major theme of the book is about being a woman in a society steeped in customary laws that provide only token gestures to the rights and desires of woman. Kire projects the life of women and how women are chained by social obligations in a patriarchal society. Another major theme is the gender discrimination prevails in Angami society. Kire shows a deep insight and writes from the perspective of woman, lives in the patriarchal world of the Angami society but who has also been exposed to the larger worlds outside both of which serve to influence her very much.

Keywords : Gender Bias, Discrimination, Inequality, Customary laws

DOI :

Page Number : 216-218