Temsula Ao Knihy

Description In this collection of five spare and poignant stories from Nagaland, Temsula Ao holds up a mirror to the lives of everyday people beyond the headlines. A 'Bihari' coolie at the Dimapur railway station has been hiding a dark secret about his adopted son; a grave threat to both their lives. As her grandson is exiled from the village, a grandmother finally breaks the silence over her mutilated funeral supeti. A rare lily refuses to bloom year after year because she was moved from her usual position in the flowerbed into an ornate pot. Big Father, a uniquely misshapen grandfather tree, becomes the guardian and protector of an entire village. The matriarch Lily Anne, subjected to racial slurs by her own mother on account of her mixed parentage, resumes her position on the ancient reclining chair in her verandah to stare at the eyesore in her overgrown garden. The Tombstone in My Garden - with its pared-down prose and gripping, original stories - reflects Padma Shri award-winner Temsula Ao's deep understanding not just of the human condition, but that of all life.

The Naga people of the troubled northeastern region of India have endured more than a century of bloodshed in their struggle for an independent Nagaland and a national identity. This title features stories that are set against this uneasy backdrop. It includes stories that spring from the internal fault lines of the Indian nation-state.

Set in a sleepy town, this narrative weaves together a tapestry of interconnected lives, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption. A laburnum tree blooms over a grave, symbolizing the haunting presence of the past. Characters include a guilt-ridden hunter, a clever servant who manipulates the villagers, and a woman whose secret alters her family's fate. The struggles of an innocent villager and a young girl coping with her lover's loss highlight the harsh realities of life, while an illiterate woman's question challenges authority, showcasing resilience and transformation.

"Looking down at a wedding invitation in her hands, Aosenla begins to recall her own wedding many years ago, initiating a deep and moving reflection on the life that others made for her and the life that she eventually created for herself"--Page 4 of cover.

Temsula Ao's memoir offers a poignant reflection on her life journey from a challenging childhood in Assam, marked by the loss of her parents, to her emergence as a distinguished writer and academic. She candidly shares her struggles with deprivation and her determination to succeed through education. The narrative serves as a means to confront her past and explore themes of love and resilience. Ao's story is one of overcoming adversity and achieving personal and professional fulfillment against all odds, highlighting the power of grit and self-belief.