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1. Sushila Samad (1906-1960): A Munda poet, journalist, editor and publisher who wrote in Hindi. (Read our author profile here) (Our translations of her poems "Closed Door" and "Dedication") 
    
2. Alice Ekka (1917-1978): A short story writer from the Munda community. The first Adivasi woman published in Hindi. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of her story "Durgi's Children and Elma's Dreams") 
    
3. Rose Kerketta (1940-2025): A Kharia poet, writer, translator, and activist, most known for her involvement in the Jharkhand Movement. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of her poem "I Will Not Go To the Kingdom of Bhutan")
    
4. Temsüla Ao (1945-2022): An Ao Naga poet, writer, and ethnographer who wrote in English. (Read our author profile here)
    
5. Grace Kujur (1949- ): A poet and playwright from the Kurukh (exonym: Oraon/Uraon) community who writes in Hindi. A selection of her poems are included in Lokpriya Adivasi Kavitaein. (Read our author profile here)
    
6. Haldhar Nag (1950-): A poet from Odisha who writes in Sambalpuri, sometimes referred to as 'Kosali'. (Read our author profile here) (His poems "Warning" and "Regard for Soil" translated by Surendra Nath)
    
7. Hari Ram Meena (1952- ): A retired police officer, poet, and writer from the Meena community from writes in Hindi. (Read our author profile here) (Our translations of his untitled epigrams here and here)
    
8. Mahadev Toppo (1954- ): A Kurukh (exonym: Oraon/Uraon) writer who has written poetry, novellas, short stories and plays in Hindi. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of his poem "I am a poet of the forest")
    
9. Mamang Dai (1957- ): An Adi writer who has written novels, poems, and nonfiction in English. (Read our author profile here)
    
10. Easterine Kire Iralu (1959- ): An Angami Naga writer, poet, translator, and editor who writes in English. (Read our author profile here)
     
11. Ujjwala Jyoti Tigga (1960- ): A poet and blogger from the Kurukh (exonym: Oraon/Uraon) community who writes in Hindi and English. Her family is from Jharkhand, but relocated to Delhi, and she earned her Master's degree in Political Science from JNU. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of her poem "Earth's Unnamed Warriors" originally published in the Kavi Man Jani Man anthology edited by Vandana Tete)
     
12. Damayanti Sinku (1961- ): A writer, poet, and linguist from the Ho community. She has written several dictionaries and grammar books of the Ho language. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of her poem "Our Jharkhand")
     
13. Desmond L. Kharmawphlang: A poet, writer, and folklorist from the Khasi community who writes in English. He has published several texts documenting traditional folk tales from communities in Meghalaya. (Read our author profile here)
     
14. Damayanti Beshra (1962- ): A Santali writer, scholar, and educator. She was the first woman from the Santhal community to publish a book of poems. She writes in both Santhali and Odia. (Read our author profile here)
     
15. Vandana Tete (1969- ): A writer, playwright, activist, and editor who writes in Hindi and Kharia. She has several publications dedicated to the documentation and preservation of indigenous culture, literature, and languages. (Read our author profile here) (Our translations of her poems "Revolutionaries" and "I'll Be the Most Beautiful Woman")
     
16. Gladson Dungdung (1980- ): A prolific journalist and activist from the Kharia community who has written extensively on Adivasi issues, with a focus on land rights, forest rights, and environmental concerns. He writes in English. (Read our author profile here)
     
17. Jacinta Kerketta (1983-): A poet and journalist from the Kurukh (exonym: Uraon/Oraon) community who has been active in advocating for Adivasi communities in Jharkhand. She writes mainly in Hindi. (Read our author profile here) (Our translations of her poems "Care", "Can You Return?", and "Jamuni, Stop Yourself from Being Sold")
     
18. Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar (1983- ): A writer and translator from the Santhal community. His works in English, including The Adivasi WIll Not Dance, have received widespread critical acclaim. (Read our author profile here)
     
19. Sushma Asur (1983- ): A writer and poet from the Asur community who is interested in preserving Asuri language and culture. (Read our author profile here) (Our translation of her poems "The Mountain's Home is Gone" and "How Many Days?")
     
20. Anuj Lugun (1986- ): One of the most compelling Hindi-language poets writing about Adivasi issues today. A writer from the Munda community, Lugun is especially powerful on issues relating to environmental destruction, displacement, and Adivasi identity. (Read our author profile here) (Our translations of his poems "Adivasi", "Globe", and "Red Indians, P.S.: 'To you, this land is nothing more than enemy territory.'")
     
21. Dakxin Bajrange Chhara: A filmmaker, director, actor, and activist from the Chhara (Sansi) community in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (Read our author profile here)
     
22. Raghunath Murmu (1905-1982): A Santhali writer who created the Ol Chiki script for writing the Santhali language. (English Wikipedia) (Hindi Wikipedia) (An article on the development of the script)  (A documentary about Murmu directed by Prabal Mahto and produced by Tata Steel) 
     
23. Pyara Kerketta (1903-1973): A Kharia writer who published the first short story in the Kharia language. (Our translation of his short story "Bertha's marriage") (Hindi Wikipedia)
     
24. Jaipal Singh Munda (1903-1970): A Munda writer and member of the Constituent Assembly, Olympic gold medalist, and advocate for creation of an Adivasi state (Jharkhand). His writings and speeches were published in a collection titled Adivasiyat (translated into English as Adivasidom). (English Wikipedia) (Hindi Wikipedia) (A review of his memoir, Lo Bir Sendra) 
     
25. Angelina Tigga (1909-?) Oraon/Kurukh writer and politician from Ranchi, Jharkhand. President of the Adivasi Mahila Sangh in 1939; also served as an MP (Rajya Sabha) from 1952-1954. (Brief bio here) (English Wikipedia) 
     
26. Shanti Khalkho (1963- ) is an Oraon/Kurukh writers from Jharkhand. In 1993, she completed a Ph.d. from ranchi University on "The Direction of Cultural Change Among the Oraon Tribes." She publishes in both Hindi and Kurukh, and her writings have been broadcast on All-India Radio. She is the author of four books. A selection of her poems appeared in the anthology Kavi Man Jani Man. Our translation of her poem, "Green Jharkhand" is here.
     
27. Yashoda Murmu (1964- ) is a Santhali (Santali) writer originally from Jharkhand, who currently resides in Kolkata. She has published two books, Towa Dare and Sanwhet Dare. She writes in the Santali language. A selection of her poems is included in the Kavi Man Jani Man anthology; see our translation of her poem "Primitive Jarawa."
     
28. Avinuo Kire, Contemporary Naga writer from Nagaland. Aughor of The Power to Forgive and Other Stories (short stories), Where Wildflowers Grow a collection of poetry), and co-author of Naga Heritage Centre: People Stories.  (Brief profile here)
     
29. Chandramohan Kisku (1982- ): Santhali writer, poet and translator writing in Hindi and Santhali. Received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award in 2021 for translating a Bengali novel into Santhali. (Hindi article on the award) (Hindi profile of the author)
     
30. Dayamani Barla: A contemporary journalist and activist from the Munda community. Known as the 'Iron Lady of Jharkhand' for her activism against the displacement and dispossession of Adivasi people. (English Wikipedia) (Hindi Wikipedia) (Documentary about her activism) (UMass Lowell 2023 Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies profile)
     
31. Dr. Francisca Kujur (1959- ): Kurukh/Oraon writer, poet and translator from the Gumla district in Jharkhand, who writes in Kurukh and Hindi. She has taught as a senior lecturer in the History Department at Vinoba Bhave University. She has published several books in these two languages, including Barcha Onta Ranph and Jharkhand Ond Najir, Udhiya Ra Pinjara Ta Maina (a Kurukh short story collection), as well as Musal (a Hindi short story collection).(Our translation of her poems "Just Think, Hira" and "Only Questions") (Hindi profile)
     
32. Ganga Sahay Meena. (dates unknown). A writer from the Meena community in Madhopur district in Rajasthan. He studied at JNU in Delhi, and has taught at Delhi University and Pondicherry University. They write regularly for newspapers and magazines, and have edited the book Adivasi Sahitya Vimars (Adivasi Literary Discourse). He also serves as an editorial advisor for several research journals. In 2011, he was honored with the Dalit Adivasi Dialogue Writing Award. He is the editor of the journal Adivasi Sahitya (Adivasi Literature). His short story "The Night of Poush" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology. 
     
33. Janardan Gond (1980- ). Janardan Gond, from the Gond Adivasi community, is from the Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh, and currently resides in Mumbai, where he works at the IIT-Mumbai. His short story "Bonded Laborer" appears in Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya. 
     
34. Joram Yalam Nabam: A contemporary writer, novelist, and poet from the Tani people of Arunachal Pradesh writing in Hindi. (Our translation of her short story "Her Name was Yapi") (Hind profile and selected prose)
     
35. Jyoti Lakra (1976- ): Kurukh/Oraon writer and poet writing in Hindi from the Garhwa district in Jharkhand. Her work deals with themes of Adivasiyat, feminism, and resistance. She is also an artist currently pursuing an MFA at the University of East London. (Our translation of her poem "The Sal Tree has Fallen" and short story "Korain Duba" here) (LinkedIn profile)
     
36. Kanuram Devgam (dates unknown): A politician and writer from the Ho community in Jharkhand. According to some sources, he was the first Member of Parliament to be elected from the Singhbhum constituency to the seat reserved from Scheduled Castes in 1952. 
     
37. Kishore Shantabai Kale (1970-2007). A Kolhati writer from the Banjara community. An excerpt from his translated memoir, Against All Odds, is included in G.N. Devy's Painted Words anthology.
     
38. Lako Bodra (1919-1986): A Ho writer who created the Warang Chiti script for writing the Ho language. (English Wikipedia) (Hindi Wikipedia) (An academic article on Bodra's work)
     
39. Laxman Gaikwad (1952- ): A writers from the Pardhi community in Maharashtra. He is best known for his  Marathi-language autobiographical novel, Uchalya (The Branded), for which he won the Sahitya Akademi award. (Our translation of his story Bandookya here) (English Wikipedia)
     
40. Moti Ravan Kangali (also Motirvavan Kangali) (1949-2015). A linguist and author from the Gond community in Maharashtra. (English Wikipedia)
     
41. Narayan (1940- 2022): A Malayarayar writer from Kerala who wrote in Malayalam. He is widely considered the first Adivasi writer from Kerala to be published. He has written 11 novels and 5 short story anthologies. (Our translation of his short story "The Birth of Pravachak" here) (English Wikipedia)
     
42. Nirmila Putul Murmu (1972- ): A Santhali writer, poet, and activist writing in Hindi from the Santhal Parganas district in Jharkhand. (Hindi Wikipedia) (A profile of and interview with Putul here) ("Buru Gaara", a documentary about Dayamanti Birla and Nirmala Putul, here) (Critical Analysis of Nirmala Putul's Poems on Adivasi Women) (Hindi poems here) 
     
43. Nzanmongi Jasmine Patton. A contemporary Lotha Naga writer, and author of A Girl Swallowed by a Tree (2017).
     
44. Paddam Anasuya. Koya (Koitur) writer and author of the Telugu-language collection of short stories, Chappudu, reviewed here.
     
45. Peter Paul Ekka (unknown- 2018): A Hindi writer from the Kurukh community in Jharkhand. He was trained as s chemist in Channai and Pune, and joined the Society of Jesis in 1973. He also studied at Marquette University in the USA before completing his Ph.D. at Ranchi University. (English obituary here) (Read his short story "Ve Chaar Varsh" or "Those Four Years" in Hindi here)
     
46. Pushpa Tete: An activist and journalist, who hs written for Dainik Jagran, Ranchi Express, Prabhat Khabar and many other periodicals. She was involved in the Netarhat movement against the construction of a military firing range in Jharkhand. She is a co-editor of Jaago Adivasi Jaago. 
     
47. Pyari Tuti (1951- ): A Mundari writer and poet writing primarily in the Mundari language. (Our translation of her poem "Environment" here)
     
48. Ram Dayal Munda (1939- 2011): A scholar from the Munda community with an interest in anthropology, linguistics, folklore, and more. He published more than ten books and over fifty essays in multiple languages, including Mundari, Nagpuri, Panchpargania, Hindi, and English. In Hindi, two collections of his poems have been published—Nadi Aur Uske Sambandhi Tatha Anya Nageet (“The River and Its Kin and Other Songs”) and Wapsi, Punar Milan Aur Anya Nageet (“Return, Reunion, and Other Songs”).(English Wikipedia) (Hindi Wikipedia) (Naachi Se Baanchi, a documentary on Munda)
     
49. Ruby Hembrom: A publisher and author from Kolkata, West Bengal. Ruby Hembrom founded the Adivaani Publishing House, a publishing company devoted to Adivasi literature. She is the daughter of theologian Timotheas Hembrom, a member of the Santhal community. (English Wikipedia)
     
50. Sundar Manoj Hembram. (dates unknown). Santhali writer who has worked with Indian railways. He has translated works from English into Santhali, and is associated with literary and cultural organizations. He is also the assistant editor for the Santhali literary magazines Nawa Epil and Jug-Sirijol. His short story "The Last Bus of Nighttime Bengal" appears in Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya. 
     
51. Timotheas Hembrom (1939-2020): A Santhali theologian, and editor of the Santali magazine Jug-Sirijol. (English Wikipedia)
     
52. Ushakiran Atram: A Gondi poet, writer, and activist from Maharashtra who writes in Gondi, Marathi, and Hindi. Motyarin (1993) was the first anthology to be published in the Gondi language. (Our translation of her poem "Mother Don't Kill Me in the Womb!" here) (Read her essay "The Protector: Ravan was a Gond King" here) (An interview with her here) (An academic essay on her work here)
     
53. Vahru Sonawane (also spelled Vaharu Sonavane or Waharu Sonawane) (1949- ): A Bhil writer and activist from Maharashtra. He has been associated with the Shramik Sanghalana tribal organization. His first collection of poetry in Marathi, Godhad, was published in 1988. (Interview with the author) (Hindi poems) (His poem "Stage" in translation quoted here) (Watch Sonawane recite "Stage" in Hindi here)
     
54. Walter Bhengra 'Tarun': A Hindi journalist, writer, and poet from the Munda community in Amritpur in the Khunti district of Jharkhand. Bhengra studied in Delhi and Pune before working for Doordarshan, from which he retired in 2007. He taught at St. Xavier's College in Ranchi unitl 2014. (Our translation of his short story "Sangi")  (Hindi profile here) (Hindi language books for sale here) (An academic article in Hindi on Bhengra's fiction here)
     
55. Mangal Singh Munda. (dates unknown) Mangal Singh Munda is a Munda writer from the Rangrong Village, in the Khunti district in Jharkhand. He began publishing short stories in Ranchi's Adivasi magazine in 1982. He published a novel with Rajkamal, a major Delhi-based publisher, called Chhaela Sandu in 2004. His short story "Deception" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology. 
     
56. Krishna Chandra Tudu. (dates unknown) A Santhali writer from Jharkhand. K.C. Tudu has been teaching in the Department of Tribal and Regional Languages at Ranchi University. He has published three collections of poetry, two plays, as well as books on linguistics. Short story "A Span of Land" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology.
     
57. Yeshe Dorje Thongchi (1952- ). Adivasi writer from the Shedukpen tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh. Author of many books and winner of the Padma Shri as well as the Sahitya Akademy Awards. He has published eight novels; his novel Sonam, which focuses on the Brokpa tribe from the Bhutan-Arunachal area, was adapted into a film in 2005. His short Story "Mirror" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology. (English Wikipedia) (Short story online here)
     
58. Sikra Das Tirkey. (dates unknown) A Kurukh writer from the Khunti district in Jharkhand whose mother tongue is Mundari (since he was raised in a Mundari speaking region). He writes in both Mundari and Hindi. His published books include Bachandua An To Au, Jharkhand ke Adivasi aur Unke Gotra (The Adivasis of Jharkhand and Their Clans), Van Adhiniyam 2006 (Forest Act 2006 – translation), Mundari Lok Sahitya Mein Itihas (History in Mundari Folklore), and Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda (translated play). His short story "Baghjogni on a New Moon Night" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology.
     
59. Krishna Mohan Singh Munda. (dates unknown) A writer from the Munda community from Jharkhand. He writes in Mundari, Panchpargania, and Hindi. He has been associated with the Jharkhandi language, literature and culture organization, Akhra. His short story "Leelmani's Duty" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology
     
60. Rajendra Munda. (dates unknown) A Munda writer from the Ranchi district of Jhakrhand. He began writing in 2006, and has published short sotires and poems in Mundari and Hindi. His short story "Morhi" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology.
     
61. Shishir Tudu. (dates unknown) Santhali writer originally from Bihar. Since 1983, he has been associated with Good Books Education Trust, working on magazine editing and radio programming, producing around 400 radio programs. In 1986, he began working as a writer and video filmmaker. Some of his films include Manda Parv, Sarhul, Jharkhand ke Vikas, Ek Anubhuti, Sauriya Pahadiya, Binjhiya, Shiksha, Samaj aur Satta, and Akshar ki Barsaat. His short story "Stain" appears in the Lokpriya Adivasi Kahaniya anthology.
     
62. Dulay Chandra Munda (1941-1982). A Munda poet from the Khunti district in Jharkhand, he taught at J.N. College, Dhurwa (Ranchi) beginning in 1976. His first collection of Mundari language poems, Suḍāsangen (New Shoots), was published in 1966, and his second collection, Bambaru (Torch), in 1978. Many of his poems have been included in various journals and books, and songs have been broadcast from All India Radio, Ranchi. His poems are included in Vandana Tete's Lokpriya Adivasi Kavitaein. 
     
63. Irom Chanu Sharmila (1972- ). Irom Chanu Sharmila is a poet and activist from Manipur. In 2000, she joined a hunger strike against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in northeastern states, which led to her imprisonment for fourteen years  She was released from prison in 2014, and published a collection of poetry called Garden of Peace, an English translation of poems originally written in Manipuri. A selection of her poems are included in Vandana Tete's Lokpriya Adivasi Kavitaen. (English Wikipedia) 
     
64. Kumal Kumar Tanti. Kumal Kumar Tanti is from an Adivasi Assamese background (referred to in one sources as the "Tea Tribe"), who presently works as a physicist and lives in Mumbai. His first poetry collection, Marangburu Aamar Pita (“Marangburu Our Father”), published in 2007, won him the prestigious Munin Barkotoki Literary Award in 2008. For this same collection, he also received the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2012. A selection of his poems are included in Vandana Tete's Lokpriya Adivasi Kavitaen.
     
65. Ruplal Bedia (also spelled Rooplal Bedia). (dates unknown) A writer from the Bedia Adivasi community in the Ranchi district of Jharkhand.  To date, more than two dozen of his short stories have been published in major literary magazines. His first short story collection, Shoonya Mein Atke Parinde (Birds Stuck in the Void), was published in 2012.
      
66. Anu Suman Big
67. Arun Kumar Oraon
68. Diamond Meena
69. Gomasta Prasad Soren
70. Jamuna Beanie
71. Julius Tigga
72. K. M. Maitree
73. Kajal Demta
74. Kalpana Soren
75. Kedar Prasad Meena
76. Laltluangliana Khiangte
77. Lusku Samad
78. Maipati Arun Kumar
79. Majhi Ramdas Tudu
80. Mennas Odeya
81. Najubai Gavit
82. Nitisha Khalkho
83. Nuas Kerketta
84. Raghunath Tudu
85. Robin S. Nagangom
86. Sadhu Ramchand Murmu
87. Salu Majhi
88. Sardar Singh Meena
89. Sarada Prasad Kisku
90. Shyam Sundar Hembram
91. Sunil Minj
92. Sunil Kumar 'Suman'
93. Sushila Dhurve
94. Thakur Prasad Murmu
95. Turia Chand Baskey
96. Prabhakar Tikri