Poet Nitisha Khalkho & short story writer Sunder Manoj Hembrom: Oraon and Santali writers’ meet during “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” (National Conference)

Plenary Session 4: TRIBAL WRITERS’ MEET

Chaired by: Prof. Anand Mahanand (Dept of English, EFL, Hyderabad) & Dr. Ganga Sahay Meena (Dept of Hindi, SLLCS, JNU, New Delhi)

Nitisha Khalkho, a poet from the Oraon community has written the poetry collection titled Kalam Ko Teer Hone Do. As she read out some of her poems, her versatility was evident. She spoke about her poems in which she has written about the Adivasi society, the ways in which an Adivasi girl is approached in university politics and various other contemporary issues. She expressed the concern as to why is it expected of the Adivasi writers to write only about a particular theme. She writes most of her poems in Hindi because she has to reach a larger number of people.

Sunder Manoj Hembrom, a prolific short story writer in Santhali language, spoke about the impact of globalization on Adivasi literature. He read out some excerpts from his short story collection, Sengel Buru, which were on themes such as personal turmoil, social transformation of Santhals and their resultant angst. He writes with an aim to document memories, to celebrate his identity and tradition. This Tribal Writers’ Meet brought forward the struggles, the anxieties, and the process of writing of the Adivasi writers.

(Student Rapporteur: Ms. Rajitha Venugopal)

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

Source: Report for the ICSSR-sponsored Two-Day National Conference Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative organised by The Department of English & Outreach Programme Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, 27-28 February 2017)

Courtesy Dr. Ivy Hansdak, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi (email 4 October 2017)

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