Examining How Easterine Iralu's "A Naga Village Remembered" Reflects the Idea of Women and Their Status

Abstract

A Naga Village Remembered by Easterine Iralu highlights the social, cultural, and daily roles of Naga women with accuracy and detail. By engaging with Iralu, this study shows that, overall, women are key to culture, yet they still face many limits imposed by male dominance. While women in Naga communities are extremely important for agriculture, homemaking, ceremonies, and remembering their past, they do not have opportunities to participate in politics or own property. Iralu chooses not to make Naga women’s experiences seem good or bad; she tells their stories calmly and truthfully. Piano and Peno demonstrate that women have responsibilities outside the home, including cultural, religious, and work-related roles. Naga women take action in different ways to influence decisions within and outside the framework of their traditional societies. The work reveals that while colonization and conflict supported patriarchal rules, they also contributed to women playing leading roles in society. In the narrative, traditions are acknowledged, yet some social norms are seriously questioned. Consequently, this analysis demonstrates how literature can save historical accounts of marginalized people and encourage people to question gender issues. By highlighting women’s stories, Iralu takes a step toward changing the male-dominated way Naga history is usually shared and inspires readers to explore issues of tradition and transformation.