Peace and Reconciliation in Easterine Kire’s Bitter Wormwood: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Easterine Kire’s novel, Bitter Wormwood, is a powerful portrayal of the Naga freedom struggle and its impact on individuals and communities. Through the protagonist, Mose, and his journey, Kire explores the complexities of conflict, identity, and the quest for peace and reconciliation. The Naga people have been fighting for their independence from India for decades, with the conflict resulting in significant human suffering, displacement, and cultural erasure. Kire’s novel is set against this backdrop, delving into the experiences of Mose and his community as they navigate the complexities of the conflict. By tracing Mose’s journey, the paper examines his experiences, which mirror the broader struggle for self-determination and the accompanying bitterness and disillusionment. The novel’s title, Bitter Wormwood, symbolizes the lingering resentment following a freedom struggle, with the wormwood plant serving as a potent metaphor for the community’s bitterness towards the Indian government. This analysis sheds light on how the Naga people’s memories reconstruct their freedom struggle, challenging the erasure of their history in the dominant national narrative. Furthermore, it highlights the human toll of armed conflict and emphasizes the need for peace and reconciliation. This paper offers an in-depth analysis of Easterine Kire’s novel, Bitter Wormwood, which explores the Naga freedom struggle against Indian dominance through the protagonist Mose’s perspective. Set in Nagaland, a region in Northeastern India, the novel delves into the decades-long fight for independence by the indigenous Naga people.