Indigenous Resistance and Spirituality: An Alternative Memory Practices in The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali by Uzma Aslam Khan

Abstract

The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali is a historical fiction novel by a South Asian woman, Uzma Aslam’s Khan (2019). The past studies on this novel were all about the brutality of foreign domination, intergenerational suffering and ecological devastation. The unexplored area of the novel is now covered in this research, which is based on psychological resilience, indigenous healing, suppressed voices and women's empowerment. This study helps us to find out how the prisoners and indigenous communities face the brutality. This research investigates how spoken traditions, cultural myths, and ceremonial practices serve as alternative historical records against colonial suppression, enabling oppressed communities to reclaim their past. Additionally, it delves into the experiences of Muslim and native women, especially those imprisoned in penal colonies. This research sheds light on the unseen strength of the oppressed, demonstrating how cultural memory and spiritual traditions serve as forms of resistance. By exploring these alternative histories, it contributes to a broader conversation on survival, identity, and the enduring power of storytelling in reclaiming lost histories.