Indian poetry and Indian literature in general, has a long history dating back to Vedic times. They were written in various Indian languages such as Vedic Sanskrit, Classical Sanskrit, Ancient Meitei, Modern Meitei, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, Maithili, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese, Hindi, Marathi and Urdu among other prominent languages. Poetry in foreign languages such as English also has a strong influence on Indian poetry. The poetry reflects diverse spiritual traditions within India. In particular, many Indian poets have been inspired by mystical experiences. Poetry is the oldest form of literature and has a rich written and oral tradition.
Mahasweta Devi was an Indian writer in Bengali and an activist. Her notable literary works include Hajar Churashir Maa, Rudali, and Aranyer Adhikar. She was a leftist who worked for the rights and empowerment of the tribal people of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states of India. She was honoured with various literary awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award and Ramon Magsaysay Award along with India's civilian awards Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan.
The Kurukh or Oraon, also spelt Uraon or Dhangad, are a Dravidian speaking ethnolinguistic group inhabiting Chhotanagpur Plateau and adjoining areas - mainly the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal. They predominantly speak Kurukh as their native language, which belongs to the Dravidian language family. In Maharashtra, Oraon people are also known as Dhangad.
The Munda people are an Austroasiatic-speaking ethnic group of the Indian subcontinent. They speak Mundari as their native language, which belongs to the Munda subgroup of Austroasiatic languages. The Munda are found mainly concentrated in the south and East Chhotanagpur Plateau region of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. The Munda also reside in adjacent areas of Madhya Pradesh as well as in portions of Bangladesh, Nepal, and the state of Tripura. They are one of India's largest scheduled tribes. Munda people in Tripura are also known as Mura. In the Kolhan region of Jharkhand the Munda people are often called Tamadia by other communities.
Telesphore Placidus Toppo was an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church and a member of the aboriginal tribal community who was archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ranchi from 1985 to 2018, after serving as coadjutor there for a year. He was bishop of Dumka from 1978 to 1984. He was made a cardinal in 2003, the first from India's tribal population.
Dayamani Barla is an Indian tribal journalist and activist from the Indian state of Jharkhand. She became notable for her activism in opposing Arcelor Mittal's steel plant in Eastern Jharkhand that tribal activists say would displace forty villages.
Christians are a religious community residing in the Indian state of Jharkhand. As per 2011 Census of India, 4.3% of people in Jharkhand are Christians. Christians are majority in Simdega district of Jharkhand.
Ram Dayal Munda, known as R. D. Munda, was an Indian scholar and regional music exponent. He was awarded the Padma Shri of the year 2010 for his contribution to the field of art.
Biju Toppo is an anthropological and national award-winning tribal documentary filmmaker from Ranchi, Jharkhand. He uses film as a medium for social activism on behalf of marginalized indigenous communities, and teaches video production at St. Xaviers College, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. He belongs to the ethnic group Kurukh of India.
Anamika is a contemporary Indian poet, social worker and novelist writing in Hindi, and a critic writing in English. My Typewriter Is My Piano is her collection of poems translated into English. She is known for her feminist poetry.
Rose Kerketta is a woman writer, poet, thinker and tribal rights activist. She was born in Kaisara, Ranchi District, Bihar which is now Simdega District, Jharkhand to a Kharia family. She has written several books about tribal language and culture.
Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is an Indian writer.
Alice Ekka was an Indian Adivasi writer known to be the first female storyteller from a tribal background.
Grace Kujur is an Adivasi woman poet from Ranchi (Jharkhand). Born in the Oraon (Kurukh) family of Father Patrick Kujur and Mother Ruth Kerketta, Grace Kuzur was retired from the post of DG (Program) from Directorate General of All India Radio, New Delhi in 2008. Grace Kuzur started writing work since 1966. Her poems have been published in various literary magazines and newspapers, 'Hindustan', 'Aaj', 'Yudhrat Aam Admi', 'Aryavrat', 'Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra' etc. Her poems are included in many poem collections including 'Kalam Ugalti Aag' and 'Lokpriya Aadivasi Kavitayen'. No collections have been published so far. She also wrote radio dramas and comedies. Her play, 'Mahua Gira Aadhi Raat', is being discussed on witchcraft very popular.
Sushila Samad or Sushila Samanta was an Adivasi Hindi poet, journalist, editor, publisher. She was an active organiser of the Indian freedom movement. She belongs to the Munda tribal family of the village of Laujoda in the Indian state of Jharkhand.
Gayatribala Panda is an Indian poet, fiction writer and journalist from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Balbir Dutt is an Indian journalist. He is the Founder Director and Editor in Chief of Hindi daily Deshpran. He is also the author of several scholar books. Dutt is the recipient of prestigious Padma Shri award.
Alpa Shah is a British social anthropologist and writer specialising in South Asia. She is Professor of Anthropology at London School of Economics and author of the award-winning Nightmarch: Among India’s Revolutionary Guerrillas, a finalist for the 2019 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. Shah has written for newspapers and magazines in the UK, US and India, including the New Statesman, Foreign Policy, New York Review of Books, The Times of India and Hindustan Times. Shah has also made a radio documentary on ‘India’s Red Belt’ for BBC Radio 4 Crossing Continents, reported for BBC Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent, and co-curated a major photographic exhibition 'Behind the Indian Boom'.
Shakuntala Mishra is an Indian writer. She is a prominent writer in Nagpuri language. She has written many books in Nagpuri including Nagpuri Sadani Vyakaran a grammar book of Nagpuri, Sadani Nagpuri-Hindi Sabdkosh a dictionary of Nagpuri, Sato Nadi Par a story. Her books are included in university Nagpuri studies. She has been awarded Jharkhand Ratna, Praful Samman, Prernasrot Samman by Doordarshan Ranchi, Katha Samman by Government of Jharkhand, Bidushi Samman by Government of Bihar.
