Walking the Roadless Road: Exploring the Tribes of Nagaland

by Easterine Kire

Walking the Roadless Road: Exploring the Tribes of Nagaland is a comprehensive history of the Naga tribes who live within the borders of Nagaland. Kire begins with an overview of migration narratives—both mythical and historical—of the various tribes, starting in the nineteenth century. She then delves deep into the origins of the Nagas, their early history as forest-dwellers, how the discrete Naga territories were formed, the written and unwritten history of the villages, the various struggles that have convulsed Naga society down the ages, as well as the sweeping changes that have transformed the community in the twenty-first century.

The book is divided into four sections. ‘An Overview of Nagaland’ details the origins and history of the various tribes; it also gives an overview of the society and culture of the Naga tribes. ‘Christianity and the Naga Society’ is an analysis of the community before and after the coming of the Baptist Christian missionaries. ‘From British Colonization to Statehood’ delves into the history of the two world wars and the troubled political relationship between

India and the underground Naga leaders. ‘Turning Points in Naga History’ features key moments in Naga history and also gives us a picture of the Nagas in the twenty-first century.

Drawing on oral narratives and current scholarship, Walking the Roadless Road is an engrossing account of one of the country’s most distinctive communities.

Genres: History

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2019

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

[Avinash Aggarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerunyuki: the listening House
Well having spent 11 years of my tenure in paramilitary forces posted in North East India particularly Assam and Nagaland, this book is like contemplating my thoughts about people, culture, socio-political situation, economic development about the region.
North East India has always more or less remain the neglected area on part of Government and thus led to the growth of resentment and armed struggle with the help of neighbouring countries. The book is about the historical, geographical and demographic representation of Tribes and people of Nagaland. After one of the oldest insurgencies by one of the best and wealthy organised insurgent group, the ceasefire agreement happened with the government. Also, people are fed up with conflicts and living in the same miserable condition. Much local social organisation are also bringing various small conflicting groups to listen to each other and live in harmony. They have established Kerunyuki which means The Listening House 🏠 .
If you have not seen North East India you have missed something or everything.

[Bavyaa Rajendran]

The good historical book to learn about Nagas.