Internal conflicts and the Negotiation of identity in Easterine Kire's sky is my father: A Naga Village remembered

Abstract

Easterine Kire's Sky is My Father emotionally depicts the internal struggles of Naga individuals grappling with the arrival of Christianity. The novel explores the profound sense of dislocation and loss of identity as traditional animistic beliefs are challenged and eroded by Christian teachings. This paper examines the profound impact of Christianity on the indigenous Naga people of Northeast India. Furthermore, the paper will investigate how these characters, while initially resistant, come to understand and even grudgingly accept the happiness and fulfilment experienced by their clansmen who have embraced Christianity and embraced new opportunities. By examining the complexities of these internal struggles and the evolving perspectives of the characters and drawing upon Edward Said's concept of Orientalism, the paper argues that the introduction of Christianity can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism, leading to a sense of marginalization and displacement among the Naga people.