“Indian Army Rape Us” : The Female Body as a site of Political Defiance in Teresa Rehman’s Mothers of Manipur

Abstract

This paper aims to explore Teresa Rehman’s Mothers of Manipur as a narrative that amplifies the unheard voices of North East Indian women and their resistance against systemic violence. It examines how the novel challenges dominant power structures, critiques existing feminist and political discourses and offers a new paradigm of non-violent resistance. By analysing the shift in the conceptualisation of women’s protests, the study seeks to highlight how Mothers of Manipur reframes the discourse on rape, honour, and resistance, positioning women as active agents of change rather than passive victims. This study employs a qualitative approach, combining textual analysis and feminist critique to examine Rehman’s representations of women’s resistance in Mothers of Manipur. Using feminist theory, particularly postcolonial and intersectional feminist perspectives, the paper interrogates how the narrative redefines the notions of power, honour, and collective resistance. It also engages with historical and socio-political contexts to situate the protests within broader movements, such as Gandhian non-violence and contemporary struggles like the Farmer’s Protests. This analysis demonstrates how personal testimonies unite to form a powerful collective voice of resistance.