Nation and the Narratives of Violence: Violent Embeddings of Nationalism

Abstract

Post colonialism is not restricted to the aftermath of colonialism. Before entering into post colonialism and neo- colonialism there is an imagined space that negotiates identities, worlds and languages. Covid 19 may have given us an opportunity to connect to the world from every nook and corner but connecting is far from gaining an identity and space. The issues of space and identity are secondary. It is rather more important to be able to connect with one's own culture and diversity. This does not resolve the negotiations that the regional writers and languages have to go through. There are translated memories and experiences and generations that bear the brunt of the violence that took place years ago. The answer to that violence is not non-violence. The existence of the third space or world is not enough anymore. To begin with, the writers in the North- East region (North East India) have to justify the use of English in writing. The dilemma faced by these writers over the use of the language is equally and sometimes more important than the content. For them the content is as important as the language. They are not only using language as a tool to resist but also as a tool to gain access to the world outside their immediate worlds. However, a lot is lost during this translation of experiences and words. It is this battle of crossing over that needs to be recognised first. Violence at the level of expression needs to be addressed before physical and psychological.