Mari

by Easterine Kire

Easterine Kire brings to life for the first time the authentic voice of the Naga people amidst the horror of the war that overwhelmed their mountaintop home in 1944. It is a voice which has for too long been silent. In her vibrant telling of the story, Easterine shows just what it meant for Nagas to be refugees in their own homeland, their homes and livelihoods around them crushed by the weight of conflict and bloodshed, their families split up and separated forever.’
– Robert Lyman, military historian

‘Even if you haven’t read about or heard of the Battle of Kohima, which stopped the Japanese march into India, you will never forget the battle after reading this book. It is based on Mari’s living memory and a diary she kept during and after the war. Vic, Mari and Pat show by example that it is by living passionately and loving unreservedly that we give depth and meaning to the scattered events and accidents of our lives. Mari and the people around her love deeply, and that sees them through life and death.’ – Paulus Pimomo, Professor of English & Co-Director, African and Black Studies, Central Washington University

‘Easterine’s writings are pivoted on her yearning for truth and grace, enveloped at the same time in the existential human predicament. Her writings are aimed at all categories of readers: young and old, traditional and modern.’ – Dr A.J. Sebastian, Head, Department of English, Nagaland University

I open the diary slowly. The childish scrawl of a young girl fills its pages, and as I read on, I am almost that girl again. Carefree, innocent, and oblivious to the way in which the war would change my life forever. I am drawn once again, irresistibly, into that mad whirl of living, dying and loving. That was the war I knew. I had thought then that life began at seventeen. And that life began in spring. And the world was green with the young green of new plants, the hills bathed with thin mist every evening and the nights velvet with the songs of Bing Crosby. How little I knew of life then.
Kohima. 1944. The Japanese invade India, life changes overnight, and seventeen-year-old Mari O’Leary and her young sisters are evacuated from their home and separated from the rest of their family.
Even as she pines for her fiancé Vic, a soldier in the British army, Mari and her sisters are forced to run from village to village, camping in fields, eating herbs for food, seeking shelter or a trustworthy friend, until the madness has passed.
A sensitive recounting of a true story, Mari is also the story of Kohima and its people. Easterine Kire brings alive a simpler time in a forgotten place that was ravaged by war before it was noticed by the rest of the world.

Genres: India, Fiction, Historical Fiction, War

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

Easterine Kire (Iralu) is a poet, writer, and novelist from Nagaland. She is one of the finest story tellers from the region and has written several books in English including three collections of poetry and short stories. Her first novel, A Naga Village Remembered, was the first-ever Naga novel to be published.

Easterine has translated 200 oral poems from her native language, Tenyidie, into English. She has been actively involved in working on creating better opportunities for the Naga youth and nurturing and evangelizing the Naga folktales.

She is also the Founder-partner of the publishing house called Barkweaver, which publishes Naga folktales, children’s stories and real stirring stories of ordinary people. Easterine Kire has a Ph.D in English Literature from University of Pune.

Reviews

[Dhanaraj Rajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fascination for the North East (India) and so it was only natural that the literature from these parts attracted me. And whatever I have read of the North Eastern Literature, I loved almost all of them.

This is my second of Easterine Kire, writer from Nagaland. This is an auto/biographical novel about the writer's maternal aunt. And the setting is World War II.

World War II reached Indian border of Nagaland in 1944. The Japanese forces had advanced to Kohima and the war was decisive. It ended the advance of the Japanese. This was was fought between 4th April 1944 and 22nd June 1944. The British troops (India was part of British Raj then) defeated the Japanese in this decisive battle. Many lives were lost - around five thousand Japanese soldiers and four thousand British/Indian soldiers.

The story begins in this backdrop. The family of Mari, the eponymous character - Father, Mother, Sam (Brother), Aviu (Mari), Zhabu and Anieu (sisters) and Kohima are the main characters. This is later expanded to include the loves of the eponymous character, Mari.

The story begins in 1943 and ends in 1998. Mari recollects the Pre-War Kohima, the war ravaged Kohima and the Post-War Kohima. The life lived in the time of war and the painful separation of the family members, the joyful reunion and the loss of the loved ones, the grief and the new life thereafter. This is a recollection of Mari in 1998, the aged person (in her late 70s or early 80s).

It is the memory that holds us on at times; it is the memory that pulls us down at times. No matter what the shadow of the past never fails to hang over us. This theme is beautifully brought out in this story (a real life story).

As a south Indian reading this novel/life story also jolted me with some interesting facts. For instance, the Nagas liked the British and they had high regards for them. When the other parts of India was fighting against the British (to gain independence) there was no such reference in Nagaland. In fact, they lived together and loved each other deeply.

The war fought in Kohima itself was a surprise information. We knew that the Japanese had reached the North East. But the specific details were never given in our history book. As a result to read about the war in Kohima was interesting.

North East keeps surprising me. It keeps fascinating me.

Thanks Easterine Kire for writing the story of your aunt, Mari.

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I visited Kohima a couple of years ago for Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, I went there with little knowledge of the state or its history. One of the highlights, apart from the colorful festival of course, was visiting a beautiful church in Kohima. The church had a war memorial in front. It was then that I was curious. War? What war? Here in Nagaland? My interest was piqued when I learnt that the Battle of Kohima between the British and the Japanese was one of the most pivotal in World War II.

Easterine Kire sets her novel during that period. It’s a love story - and it appears to be based on her mother’s life. I should say many love stories because Mari does go through a series of men. But more than the romance, the book is important in shedding light on a forgotten part of India’s history. Why don’t we learn this in school?

[Vijaya Lakshmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Sometimes it is easier to choose death to end pain but sometimes, a great love will choose life in spite of terrible pain. I chose life, I hope it testifies to the greatness of my love. "- (This is Mari's story in short).

Mari is one of the survivors of the Battle of Kohima. This lesser-known battle was one of the most treacherous battles ever fought. Mari lived four lives in this single life out of which only one part was a beautiful one. Mari is a hero. Mari is an inspiration. I don't have the proper words to describe Mari all I can say is that she has my heart.

This memoir is beautifully crafted with a touch of perfection. Kire has done an admirable work. Such writings make us feel more grateful towards life and we tend to respect what life has bestowed us with. I'm already very close with the Naga people but this piece of art made me feel closer to them. If I ever get a chance to visit Kohima next time I would like to go to the war cemetery and search for Victor's grave. I know it was Mari and Patrick at the end but Mari and Victor will always stay unforgettable for the readers.

A heart-breaking beautiful memoir that should reach everyone. I'm grateful to one of my closest friends for sending this book to me ❤

[Trisha Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am becoming a true admirer of Easterine Kire’s work. Her writing is simple yet profoundly eloquent.

While reading Mari, I could vividly picture the World War II scenes unfolding — the terror of the Japanese invasion disrupting the peaceful lives of the Angami people, and the painful aftermath that followed.

Kire beautifully portrays the role of missionaries in helping the people rebuild Kohima, all while weaving in the poignant life story of Mari, the protagonist.

This is not just a war story; it is a deeply emotional journey through time. Mari broke my heart, but it is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

[dEstInEdnOmAd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a quick read and many too much happened in mere 192 pages. But then, the story is now immortal. It will not just be orally transmitted but retold-reread for many generations. Based in World War II scenario, one doesn't necessarily hear love stories of that era from Nagaland but this novel proves it wrong and narrates a love-story which people from the region themselves might not have been aware of! Beautifully told and a must-read for people hailing from Northeast India.

[Savi Mull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching story of the life of a young woman whose life is torn apart by the Battle of Kohima!

[Audrey Zinyü · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never had feelings for someone else man, as I did for Victor.

[Ivy Roy Sarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is in a form of diary. The source of the novel is the original diary of the Novelist's aunt, who had experienced the Battle of Kohima during the World War II. This novel is a "microhistory" or "local history" or "peoplestories" as it is written from the perspective of Naga people and their traumatic lived experiences. Besides the war, it is a novel of love, desire, aspiration, friendship, motherhood etc. The first humanistic documentation of Battle of Kohima through fiction. This war shaped the national consciousness among the Naga youth and after India gets independence, they want their own sovereign land. It is a history of Nagaland through personal stories, family histories and written diaries. An important archive of Naga history.

[summersperi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a 90s kid, and though I live in a different world than the Mari in the story,I had a grandfather who saw both the wars. He would tell us kids while he was still alive of stories of the wars, the stories he told us was the world Mari lived in. I missed my grandpa and his stories. This book was a refreshing touch to the stories of the War.

[Neer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story told simply about a forgotten war.

More here:

http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2013/0...

[Wati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that needs to be known....Lend your mind....

[Sangti · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a beautiful book. Captures Nagaland perfectly

[Avishek Bhattacharjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horrors of war as Japanese invaded India and a love story in the torrid times

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced story. Real life incidents based story, depicting the war and the life of a young woman and her journey.