Affective Dimensions of Conflict and Memory in The River Never Sleeps by Easterine Kire

Dr. R. Jeffy Catherine

Assistant Professor of English, Sarah Tucker College, Tirunelveli – 627007.

Abstract

Literature emerging from regions affected by prolonged political conflict often foregrounds emotional and psychological experiences that conventional historical narratives tend to overlook. The River Never Sleeps by Easterine Kire explores the lives of ordinary individuals in Nagaland whose lives are shaped by conflict, cultural memory, and resilience. The novel emphasizes emotional experiences such as trauma, loss, and hope rather than focusing solely on political events. This research paper examines the affective dimensions of conflict and memory in the novel by analyzing the lingering trauma of violence, the emotional landscapes of memory, and the symbolic role of place. Drawing on affect theory and trauma studies, the paper argues that Kire’s narrative transforms historical experiences into deeply emotional storytelling that reveals the psychological consequences of conflict while highlighting the resilience of individuals and communities.

Keywords: Affect, Trauma, Memory, Landscape, Resilience.