Poetry Dripping Blood: The Experience of Violence in the Contemporary Poetry of Northeast India

Abstract

The graphic and metaphoric images of violence such as blood, bomb blast, gun muzzle, bullet, the colour red and dark night predominate the poetry of Northeast India which manifests a uniqueness in attaining the art of witness. The poets of the Northeastern periphery who has been a witness to the prolonged state of violence emerging out of insurgency and counter-insurgency operations faithfully reflect on the political imbroglio. The region bears testimony to state-sanctioned violence justified in the pretext of maintaining the integrity of the country. On the other hand, the insurgent groups fighting for the sake of their identity, culture and financial well-being often take recourse to violent means to achieve their goals. The poets reflect on the jeopardy of common people living amidst the unrest and bearing the brunt of atrocities. Using the basic theoretical paradigms of Schmitt, Althusser and Agamben, the paper focuses on how the poetry of Northeast India criticises the justification of violence unleashed by both the Government and the militia out of retaliation against each other, and at the same time, illustrates the banality of violence which takes the toll on common lives.