Tribal literature originated from mythology with surreal descriptions of gods and wondrous anecdotes, but slowly this mindset turned to realistic questions. These brave writers and poets turned away from oral memories and set out to script and classify the stubborn struggles of jungle peoples. They portrayed raw rebellions, honest dreams and complex clashes between the two.
Alice Ekka (1917-1978) is considered the first female Aadivasi storyteller in Hindi literature, while Sushila Samad (1906-1960) is considered the first tribal woman to be an editor, scholar, freedom fighter and poet. She published two remarkable volumes of poetry in the 1920s. Just as far away from the mainstream, Naryan is the first Indian tribal novelist who underlined the deep seated issues through his Malayalam novel.Kocharethi,’ (1998). Despite the determination of tribal linguists like Munshi Mangal Singh Masram to rectify the Gondi language, these writers, owing to their diverse linguistic backgrounds, were compelled to rely on other regional scripts like Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi, etc., making them easy prey to upper caste literature and particularly of the pro-Brahmanistic stream.
Looking back at the legacy of Ram Dayal Munda, Rose Kerketta, Temsüla Ao and others, it can be said that the Adivasi creative arena has produced more poets than male writers and more female writers than male litterateurs. As a result, the contemporary tribal icons of literature are not bound by language barriers but have expanded the horizons of humanitarian activism. Amid the extreme hype of blood-soaked capitalism, they speak out about life-threatening conflicts to unleash the patterns of state, social, cultural and subjective tyranny of the people of the jungle, who are also the people of India.
Here are the five most significant contemporary authors and poets from tribal history that you should read to learn more about the most marginalized, yet most insightful and moving, experiences of tribal life.
1. Jacinta Kerketta
Jacinta Kerketta is a young tribal icon from Jharkhand who has established herself as a prominent Aadivasi voice in Hindi literature and journalism. She has also been included in Forbes India’s list of 20 most successful self-made women. Jacinta’s inventive compass debates the arbitrary practices of the administration and the deliberate oppression of the Aadivasi community with a clear socialist bent. Her first collection of poems, “Angora‘ highlights the gaps and differences between ambitious development goals and marginalized regions. This English-Hindi collection received international recognition and has been translated into German, Italian and French. Her other two volumes of poetry ‘Jadon Ki Zameen‘ And ‘Ishwar Aur Bazar‘,’ reveal the suppression of land rights and tribal identity.
Besides, Jacinta has made notable contributions to prominent media organizations with her on-the-ground goals and efficient social work efforts. Her compact poems emphasize her home state of Jharkhand and do not require unrealistic imagery when depicting the magical realism of ground fighting. She received an award from “Asian Indigenous Peoples’ Compact (AIPP)” for her journalistic work and numerous literary awards, including the “Ravishankar Upadhyay Memorial Youth Poetry Award” for creative contributions. In November 2023 rejected an award from the India Today Group to counter the insensitivity and silence of the mainstream media on critical tribal issues.
2. Anuj Lugun
Representing the vital heritage of the Aadivasi community on an all-encompassing scale, Anuj Lugun is a fresh literary voice of tribal uprisings from Jharkhand. After making his mark with his poem “Aghoshit Ulgulan” in 2011, he has been a constant presence in poetic activism. His poems and essays often highlight the plight of the Adivasis and the cruel consequences of capitalism-infused fascism, but his love poems have also attracted attention for their extremely genuine portrayal of affection and friendship. His second book of poems “Baagh and Sugna Munda Ki Beti” has the “Yuva Sahitya Akademi Award“ (2019) for its sensitivity to collective tyranny and historical understanding.
Anuj Lugun’s humanitarian red universe proves that inclusivity needs not only fringe subjects but also marginalized authors for detailed documentation. Anuj’s other book “Patthalgadi“His numerous stories and articles have also received great acclaim. He is currently working as an assistant professor at CUSB.
3. Vandana Tete
Vandana Tete is a writer, poet and social worker from Simdega, Jharkhand. By portraying the life, pain and heroism of the Scheduled Tribes, Vandana openly criticises the fascist forces and strengthens the literature of rebellion. Her books “Kiska Raj Hai” “Purakha Ladake” And “Kavi Man, Jani Man” have pointed out the legally justified instruments of inequality. Vandana Tete writes primarily in Hindi and Khadiya, but has also contributed to intersectional feminism, journalism, folk songs, and the language movement to protect Jharkhandi languages in 2003.
Despite her overwhelming contribution to the legacy of literature, art and culture, the pro-Brahminical, misogynistic, discriminatory, highly hypocritical and pseudo-progressive groups of the Hindi scene have not given her the space that was her fundamental intellectual right.
4. Ushakiran Atram
Ushakiran Atram often highlights the misogyny of widespread traditions and texts to unravel the origins of inequality and injustice. A writer, poet and prominent activist of the Gond tribe in Maharashtra, Ushakiran has written prolifically in Hindi, Gondi and Marathi to explore the tribal threads in history. Her first Gondi poetry collection ‘Morki‘ (1993) talks about the life struggles of an Adivasi newcomer in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, while her remarkable Hindi works “Aher Katha Sangrah” And “Gondwana ki Veeranganayein” were highlighted for documenting the courage of the indigenous people. In January 2024, their demand to include the Gondi language as an official language of India received widespread attention from civil society.
Even when she depicted depressed subjects, her creative world was vibrant enough to retain the sparks of hope and sensitive enough to raise global awareness. Ushakiran has an eye for the raw, captivating aesthetics and expressive acumen of the jungle people. She heads the Dhanegaon branch of the All India Adivasi Sahitya Sangh to protect the state’s culture, history and languages.
5. Nirmala Putul
Another poet, writer and social activist from Jharkhand, Nirmala Puttal has been a feminist and anti-fascist voice in Hindi literature and the Santhali language for more than 15 years. Her work highlights the lives of indigenous people and the nature-centered culture of coexistence in the fight against political oppression, but she has also written with a reformatory approach about the internal dangers and misunderstandings of her community. Her volumes of poetry “Nagade ki trah bayte Shabad”, “Apne ghar ki talash,” And “There is no video” are considered a symbol of the grassroots community. Their themes revolve around the lives of tribal women and often deal with the industrial and social exploitation of tribal women in the alleged ‘civilized‘ Places.
Due to her wider appeal, her poems have been translated into several Indian languages. Both her poetic works and her activism emphasized human rights, women’s rights and the right to education.
These courageous writers without diplomatic filters embody the true purpose of literature. People who point the finger at the novelty and aesthetics of these voices of ‘Jal, Jungle, Zameen‘must know that these brilliant souls were resilient enough to write when their pens were snatched away. They write to record their past, present and future and to protect their roots, rights and existence.
It is also noteworthy that the regions that have been targeted more strongly more rebellious tribal spirits. These 5 contemporary, resilient wordsmiths prove that feeling existential sovereignty increases one’s intensity to fight in more difficult situations.
This is by no means an exhaustive or representative list. Suggestions to add to this list are welcome in the comments section.
