Kire, Easterine. When The River Sleeps. Paperback New Delhi: Zubaan Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2014. ISBN: 9789383074891 PP. 244., Rs 350

Abstract

When the River Sleeps is a highly captivating tale that
adeptly portrays an intimate perspective of the Naga world.
Through Kire's skillful portrayal, readers are introduced to
various facets of Naga life and culture. The narrative revolves
around the protagonist, Vilie, and chronicles his quest toward
the sleeping river in order to extract an enigmatic heart stone
from its core. The book furthermore covers the protagonist's
expedition and endeavour to safeguard the heart stone. Kire's
adept utilization of language and inventive narrative techniques
effectively captivate readers, as her words shed light on
significant realities such as societal challenges, cultural stigmas,
traditional belief systems, and the indigenous medicinal practices
of the lesser-known Tenimiya Naga tribe. In this regard, the
book explored the Naga region a bit. The novel effectively
reflects an “intense sense of awareness of the cultural loss and
recovery” (Misra xi).