Emergence of New Women with Reference to Temsula Ao’s Aosenla’s Story

Abstract

Temsula Ao is one of the pioneer women writers of Northeast India who is a fictionist, poet, ethnographer and retired Professor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Her novel entitled Aosenla’s Story (2017) delineates the story of a vibrant protagonist called Aosenla. The novel deals with the emergence of “New Woman” which comprises autonomy and individuality. Aosenla is one such character who tries to be assertive against the limitations which society imposes on women in her native place. This story is taken up for discussion to highlight the condition of women in Northeast region through the character of Aosenla. Aosenla tries to prove her mettle to overcome the lower financial background of her family. The investigation explores how Aosenla struggles hard to break the familial shackles physically, mentally and emerges from the patriarchal world that subjugates women inside home by restricting their moves through the invisible rules.