Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It is the 15th largest state by area, and the 14th largest by population. Hindi is the official language of the state. The city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka its sub-capital. The state is known for its waterfalls, hills and holy places; Baidyanath Dham, Parasnath, Dewri and Rajrappa are major religious sites. Jharkhand is primarily rural, with about 24% of its population living in cities.
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.
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.
The Kharia are an Austroasiatic tribal ethnic group from east-central India. They originally speak the Kharia language, which belong to Austroasiatic languages. They are sub-divided into three groups known as the Hill Kharia, Delki Kharia and the Dudh Kharia. Amongst them, the Dudh Kharia is the most educated community.
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.
Hemant Soren is an Indian politician from Jharkhand, who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2019 to 2024 and from 2013 to 2014. He is also the working president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, a political party in Jharkhand. He represents Barhait constituency in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly since 2014 and from Dumka from 2019 to 2020 and from 2009 to 2014. He was also the Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2010 to 2013, leader of the opposition, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2019 and member of Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand from 2009 to 2010.
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.
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.
Dewri Mandir is a mandir situated in Diuri village, Tamar near Ranchi in Jharkhand in India. It is located near the Tata-Ranchi Highway (NH33). The main attraction of this ancient mandir is, 700 year old murti of the Goddess Durga, Kali. The murti have 16 hands. It is an ancient Mandir and It was renovated few years back. The ancient mandir was constructed by interlocking stones without using chalk or binding material. This temple is also known as, Mata Dewri Diri in tribal Bhumij Munda languages.
Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is an Indian writer.
Chandan Tiwari is an Indian folk singer from Bihar. She is known as folk singer and sings in Bhojpuri, Nagpuri, Awadhi and Hindi. She was awarded Sangeet Natak Academy-Bismillah Khan Samman. She was honoured by Bhojpuri Kokila in Kolkata. BAG Films-News 24 awarded her best traditional folk singer. She appeared in India Today Magazine in cover story for her contributions to Indian folk music. She has been singing in various forms of folks like Purabi Sohar, Pachra Gandhi song, River Song, Chhath Song Kajri and Thumri.
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.
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.
Bisheshwar Prasad Keshari, popularly known as Dr BP Keshari, was an educationist and writer. He was a prominent leader in the movement for a separate state, Jharkhand.
Bharti Kashyap Navigating Health Care Reform in Jharkhand From a crusader against blindness to Cervical cancer activist the extraordinary success and figures of cervical cancer eradication campaign, eye donation awareness campaign, diabetic retinopathy screening, “Jyot Se Jyot Jalao” campaign and vision protection campaign being run in Jharkhand over the past three decades by Dr. Bharti Kashyap is a testament to the fact that she has carried out the campaigns with full devotion and dedication and has successfully achieved the set targets. Nari Shakti puruskar Awardee Dr Bharti Kashyap is an Indian ophthalmologist and great family and child welfare social worker in Jharkhand, also known as vision and Janni suraksha Lady. She is honoured with Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2017 by hon'ble president of India and is a five-time recipient of the National IMA Award for the welfare of the underprivileged section of society
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.
