Publication

Abstract : This article investigates a humanitarian quandary portrayed in Easterine Kire’s historical novel, Bitter Wormwood. It aims to analyse the influence of suppressed mourning on the motivations and behaviours of the characters depicted in the novel and how it contributes to the perpetuation of violence, exploring the impact of silenced grief and the intergenerational transmission of precariousness. The paper examines the longstanding issue between India and the state of Nagaland, which has not been resolved even decades after the nation's independence.The article seeks to illuminate the contested ethical relationship between the mainland and the periphery by drawing on Judith Butler’s view of precarious lives. By exploring the connection between suppressed mourning and violence, we gain a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of the perpetual cycle of precarity and the potential for healing.