Easterine Kire represents a significant contemporary literary figure from Nagaland, whose writings profoundly explore the intricate social, political, and historical contexts of the Naga community. In Bitter Wormwood, she delves into the complex intersections of history, politics, and trauma, reconstructing Naga identity through lived experience, memory, and acts of defiance. Employing frameworks derived from postcolonial and trauma theory, especially those articulated by Cathy Caruth and Sanjib Baruah, the novel illustrates the profound impact of historical violence, colonial disruptions, and political marginalisation on the formation of Naga consciousness. Kire’s narrative intricately weaves together personal experiences of trauma, creating a shared repository of resilience that connects individual pain to the larger tapestry of communal history. The novel situates the Naga struggle within the broader framework of India’s postcolonial nation-building, examining how marginalised histories contest prevailing nationalist narratives. By re-centring marginalised voices, Kire enacts a form of “history from below,” demonstrating how literature can function as an alternative space for historiography and healing. Recollection, articulated through narrative, manifests as a vital endeavour for survival and ethical restoration, navigating the intricate interplay among trauma, selfhood, and optimism. This research paper examines the representation of personal and collective trauma in Bitter Wormwood, the reconstruction of Naga identity, and the role of literature in safeguarding subaltern histories.