Whose memoir is titled ‘Once Upon a Life: Burnt Curry and Bloody Rags’?

The correct answer is Temsula Ao.

Once Upon a Life: Burnt Curry and Bloody Rags is the autobiography/memoir of Temsula Ao, which was published in 2013. Temsula Ao (1945–2022) was an influential poet, short story writer, and ethnographer from Nagaland, India. She was a prominent voice in Northeast Indian literature in English and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2007.

In this memoir, she candidly describes her difficult childhood, the pain of losing both her parents at a young age, the challenges of navigating life in boarding schools, and her eventual journey to becoming a respected academic and literary figure. The title reflectively captures the raw struggles and domestic realities of her early life.