Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the novel A Terrible Matriarchy by Easterine Kire, the story is narrated by Dielienuo, who remembers her childhood.

At first, she lived with her parents. Later, she is sent to her grandmother Vibano’s house. In the Angami Naga tradition, grandparents often train children in discipline and household work.

Dielienuo is the only girl in the family and has four brothers:

• Leto
• Vini
• Bulie
• Pete

Her grandmother, Vibano, strongly believes that girls must learn household work because they will become wives and mothers in the future.

She also believes that education is not good for girls. According to her, educated girls may not get good marriage proposals because boys prefer girls who can cook and manage the house.

Because of this belief, Vibano treats Dielienuo very strictly.

Dielienuo must do many chores at home, such as:

• fetching water
• cleaning the house
• feeding the chickens
• counting the chickens at night

Meanwhile, her brothers are treated better. Vibano even saves the best piece of meat for the boys.

Even though her grandmother does not support her education, Dielienuo proves to be a bright student. Her uncle encourages her to go to school. She studies well and is even promoted to a higher class before the session ends.

Several events affect her life:

• During Christmas, she visits her parents and siblings.
• Her best friend Vimenuo loses her father.
• Her brother Pete dies due to lung congestion.
• Her elder brother, Vini, falls into bad company and starts drinking.

The novel also describes the political conflict between the Naga people and the Indian army.

One tragic incident is the story of Rocky’s parents:

• The father is shot by the army.
• The mother is brutally raped and then killed.

These events show the difficult and violent situation in Nagaland during that time.

Because of the unrest, many young men, including Vini, start drinking and expressing their anger about the lack of freedom for the Naga people.

Later, with the support of her brother Leto, Dielienuo is finally allowed to go to college.

Other events happen in the family:

• Vimenuo and Leto fall in love and get married despite objections.
• Vini marries Nisano to change his life, but later dies, leaving his wife and child.
• Nisano and her son then live in Vibano’s house, which creates tension in the family.

Later, Dielienuo’s mother explains why Vibano always loved boys more than girls. After understanding this, Dielienuo forgives her grandmother.

Eventually, Vibano falls ill and dies.

Dielienuo completes her education and gets a job. At the age of 23, marriage proposals start coming, and she eventually gets married.

WORKS CITED

Kire, Easterine. A Terrible Matriarchy. New Delhi, Zubaan Books, 2007.