Beyond Human Potence: Transformation of Vilie Through Faith in Easterine Kire’s When the River Sleeps and Journey of the Stone

Abstract

The intention of the paper is to prove how faith and belief work in human life to achieve peace and harmony in the present world and to move to a higher goal in the journey of spiritual quest, that still holds value in the other world too. The magically realistic folk tales When the River SleepsandJourney of the Stoneprovide intensive knowledge of human ecology and offers cleansing to the mind and soul of the readers. The article aims to bring out the native wisdom and the intense belief of the Angami Nagas through Nagaland writer Easterine Kire’s chosen works. In the two novels, human beings attain superhuman qualities just by being humane. Seemingly a mystic folk tale styled plot; the narrative has layered meanings that would teach the essence of human life and survival under impossible conditions. The novels instill faith in the supreme deity and in humanity as well. They are analysed with Vladimir Propp’s ‘Functions of a Folk Tale’, so as to gain deeper understanding of the narrative function. The novels are testimony that Nagaland is more than a land of conflicts and it has a rich and serene culture to be proud of.