Category Archives: Literature – fiction

“Adivasis or indigenous people in India also feel the claustrophobic confines of their identity which has been imposed on them by others, be it the colonial administrator, the colonial anthropologist, the missionary or the neo-liberal, neo-imperialist forces that rule global economy today.” – Inaugural Speech by Dr. Ivy Hansdak titled “Is tribal identity relevant in today’s world?” (“Tribes In Transition” conference 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=23032

“It’s high time we recognise the contributions of tribal women in Indian literature.” – Devendra Kumar Devesh of Sahitya Akademi (“Tribes In Transition” conference 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=22856

“Memory plays a significant role in unfolding and revealing the tribal literature [being] collectively owned by the community and every member has the right and authority to interpret and translate as per one’s ability and genius to the best to make it accurate and appropriate. [I]nterpreting and translating from memory that has been handed down from generation to another [is] the only way to obtain accuracy as there is no written text.” – Abstract by Dr. Athikho Kaisii (“Tribes In Transition” conference 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=25096

“Mostly, these tribals have been portrayed as the objects of analysis, hunger-stricken and uncivilized. Consequently, the socio-political mainstream that is unaccustomed to accept them as civilized human beings, tries to subjugate them. They agree to accept them as their ally only at the cost of their betrayal to their identity. The available literature of Santhals is the demonstration of the voices of the people struggling to liberate themselves from the clutches of varied suppressions that problematize the very essence of their identity. Taking characters from every stratum, Santhali writers are enriching Tribal literature and foregrounding the unmapped realm of Santhal community.” – Abstract by Dr. Teresa Tudu (“Tribes In Transition” conference 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=25135

Adivasi Academy & Museum of Adivasi Voice at Tejgadh – Gujarat

Posted on 02/07/2020 by website administrator

The Adivasi Academy & Museum of Adivasi VoiceMandaarAt and Post. TejgadhTaluka: Chhota UdepurVadodara 391 156India Discussing Gujarati novels on tribal culture, Jitendra Vasava, a lecturer at Adivasi Academy, Tejgadh said, “The adivasi has always been described as a figure of pity by … Continue reading →

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A significant cultural moment among the Bodos: The literary rebirth of a compelling character in Indira Goswami’s novel “The Bronze Sword of Thengphakhri Tehsildar” – Assam

Posted on 27/06/2020 by website administrator

Indira Goswami’s novel on the legendary Bodo heroine Thengphakhri was not just about the life of a forgotten heroine, but also an attempt to reignite interest in an under-represented region of Assam’s history. I don’t remember exactly when Indira Goswami … Continue reading →

Posted in Colonial policies, Cultural heritage, De- and re-tribalisation, History, Literature - fiction, Maps, Media portrayal, Misconceptions, Names and communities, Photos and slideshows, Press snippets, Seven Sister States, Storytelling, Tribal elders, Women | Tagged | Comments Off on A significant cultural moment among the Bodos: The literary rebirth of a compelling character in Indira Goswami’s novel “The Bronze Sword of Thengphakhri Tehsildar” – Assam

“Kocharethi calls upon us to ethically engage with it, to question our complicity” – First novel by an adivasi in Kerala

Posted on 21/06/2020 by website administrator

To read the full book review by Pramod K. Nayar, click here >> Narayan, Kerala’s first tribal novelist, avoids romanticising his milieu. Kocharethi is about the hidden poetry of marginal lives… The temptation to exoticise cultures that have not been … Continue reading →

Posted in Adivasi, Anthropology, Childhood and children, Colonial policies, Customs, Health and nutrition, History, Literature - fiction, Media portrayal, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Particularly vulnerable tribal group, Press snippets, Southern region, Storytelling, Tribal elders, Tribal identity, Western Ghats - tribal heritage & ecology, Women, Worship and rituals | Tagged | Comments Off on “Kocharethi calls upon us to ethically engage with it, to question our complicity” – First novel by an adivasi in Kerala

Poet and novelist Mamang Dai: A member of a tribe of “ten thousand messengers / carrying the whispers of the world” – Arunachal Pradesh

Posted on 19/06/2020 by website administrator

Mamang Dai (India, 1957)Saturday 1 May 2010 Mamang Dai is a poet and novelist. She lives in Itanagar in the North-east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. She has one collection of poetry, River Poems, to her credit. Her next collection, Midsummer-Survival Lyrics, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural heritage, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Literature - fiction, Literature and bibliographies, Maps, Modernity, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Seven Sister States, Storytelling, Success story, Tips, Tribal identity, Women, Worship and rituals | Comments Off on Poet and novelist Mamang Dai: A member of a tribe of “ten thousand messengers / carrying the whispers of the world” – Arunachal Pradesh

Giving ‘voice’ to Adivasi communities in India and inspiring projects in other states: Bhasha Research and Publication Centre – Gujarat

Posted on 30/03/2020 by website administrator

Bhasha Research and Publication Centre was founded in 1996 with the purpose of giving ‘voice’ to Adivasi communities in India. The Adivasi Academy is founded by Bhasha at Tejgadh in Chhotaudepur district of Gujarat as an institute to combine the … Continue reading →

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