TEMSULA AO'S THESE HILLS CALLED HOMES: STORIES FROM A WAR ZONE - AS AN USHERANCE TO THE SOCIAL COMMITMENT OF A WRITER

Literature from the North-Eastern region of India has often emerged from the lived experiences of conflict, identity and survival. With the same perspective, the present paper focuses on selected stories from Temsula Ao’s These Hills Called Home, particularly “The Curfew Man,” “The Night,” and “The Potmaker.” Temsula Ao, being both a writer and a witness to the troubled history of Nagaland, reflects in her narratives a deep social commitment towards her people and their everyday struggles. Ao’s stories are not merely fictional representations but are closely connected with the social realities of insurgency, fear, displacement and the silent endurance of ordinary villagers.In “The Curfew Man,” the situation of curfew is not presented only as a political measure but as a lived condition that affects human relationships and daily life. Similarly, in “The Night,” the atmosphere of tension and uncertainty shows how violence enters the private spaces of families and disturbs the sense of security. “The Potmaker,” on the other hand, presents the life of a simple craftsman whose dignity of labour and attachment to tradition reveal the strength of common people even in disturbed times. Through these characters, Ao humanises those who are often reduced to statistics in reports of conflict.Therefore, it can be observed that Temsula Ao’s writing carries a strong sense of responsibility towards society. She gives voice to the unheard, records the memories of suffering, and at the same time preserves the cultural and emotional life of the Naga community. Her stories stand as a reminder that behind every history of violence there are human beings with hopes, fears and resilience, and it is this human dimension that forms the core of her social commitment.