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• 1 2025-06-26T14:46:11-04:00 Hari Ram Meena (1952- ): Author Profile 15 Author profile of Hari Ram Meena (or Hariram Meena), from the Meena tribe of Rajasthan plain 2025-07-08T12:33:34-04:00 This profile was written by Srishti Raj. 
  
  
  Community: Meena Tribe from northern and western India
  
  Hindi Wikipedia
  
  Hari Ram Meena was born into the Meena tribal community in 1952 in Rajasthan. He was a decorated police officer who retired as the Inspector General of Police. He is a prolific poet and novelist, having published at least 15 novels and poetry collections. His work draws upon his career as a member of law enforcement as well as his lived experiences of societal inequalities. 
  
  Poetry by Hari Ram Meena
  
  Hari Ram Meena has published three collections of poetry titled Haan, Chaand Mera Hai ("Yes, the Moon is Mine", 1999), Subah Ke Intezaar Mein ("Waiting for the Morning", 2006), Adivasi Jallianwala Evam Anya Kavityaein ("The Adivasi Jallianwala and Other Poems", 2019) as well as an epic poem titled Roya Nahi Tha Yaksha ("Yaksha Did Not Cry"). 
  
  You can read some of his poetry in Hindi on Hindwi and Poshampa for free. You can also read some of his poetry translated into English by following the links at the bottom of this page. 
  
  An excerpt from the poem "Subah Ke Intezaar Mein" (Source: Hindwi)

  व्हिसिल बजती है
  आवाज़ : ठक-ठक, ठक-ठक...
  पुलिस की गश्त?
  नहीं,
  नेपाली चौकीदार???
  नहीं रे,
  सिपाही ही है
  एक नहीं दो, दो के पीछे दो-दो, उनके पीछे परेडनुमा लंबा जत्था।
  
  ‘कौन है
  क्या कर रहा सूनी सड़क पर?’
  प्रश्न का प्रश्न बनकर ठिठकता मैं
  
  ‘शांत है शहर
  सब कुछ ठीक-ठाक
  और यह पागल या उत्पाती
  पकड़ो इसे, भाग न पाए!
  ख़तरनाक होता है अँधेरे में जागने वाला’ 

  Translated into English:

  A whistle blows
  A sound: Thuk-thuk, thuk-thuk...
  A police patrol?
  No,
  A Nepali watchman???
  No, 
  It's a soldier
  Not one but two, and two more behind them, and behind them a whole platoon. 
  
  'Who is it
  What are you doing in these deserted streets?'
  I freeze, becoming the question to the question. 
  
  'The city is calm
  Everything is alright
  And this madman or troublemaker...
  Catch him, don't let him escape!
  One who stays awake in the dark is dangerous'

  
  Prose by Hari Ram Meena
  
  Hari Ram Meena has written several novels, travelogues, and memoirs based on both his work as a police officer as well as Adivasi history and folklore. 
  • When Arrows Were Heated Up (Dhooni Tape Teer tr. Atul Cowlish, 2016) is a work of historical fiction based on an Adivasi rebellion against the British Raj led by guru and reformer Govind Bhagat who hailed from the Banjara community. Drawing on research as well as his own understanding of Rajasthani Adivasi culture and history, Meena reconstructs a largely forgotten chapter of the Indian Independence movement. 
  A quote from Dhooni Tape Teer:

  अब सात समन्दर पार से आये फिरंगियों ने इस विद्या को अपने काबू में कर रखा है और इन्होंने धरती के राजा महाराजाओं और महाजनान को बहकाकर उनकी मति फिरा दी है। जैसे पहले शनीचर ने इस इन्दरजाल का पता लगाकर लोगों को आगाह किया था और सब प्रजा को इस जान से बचने की राय बतायी थी, उस तरह मैं सब मनुष्यों को कहता हूं कि फिरंगियों के जाल को मैं समझ गया हूं और आप सब से अर्ज करता हूं कि इनके जाल में न आओ। इनके जाल में फंस जाने से लोगों को बुद्धि भ्रष्ट हो जाती है और लोगों को यह भी पता नहीं लगता कि हमारा नुकसान क्यों हो रहा है और कैसे अच्छा होगा।

  Translated into English:

  Now, the foreigners from across the seven seas have taken control of this knowledge and have turned the minds of this land's kings, rulers, and wealthy men astray. Just as Shani (the god Saturn) once uncovered the secrets of illusion and warned the people, I now warn all the people that I have understood the web these foreigners have spun, and I exhort you all to not fall into their trap. Those who fall into the web lose their knowledge and don't even realize they they're being harmed or how they might be saved. 

  • Khakhi Kalam ("Khaki Pen", 2020) is a series of essays that tell the stories of Meena's time as a police officer. It provides an insight into not only the criminal landscape of Rajasthan, but also the corruption and politics that shape law enforcement.
  • Adivasi Darshan aur Samaj ("Adivasi Philosophy and Society") is a work of nonfiction that captures Adivasi culture in four sections: Philosophi, Myths, and Symbols; History and Traditions; Perspectives on Life; and Present-Day Challenges. 
  
  Interviews with and Articles by Hari Ram Meena
  
  Hari Ram Meena at Jaipur Literature Festival (Hindustan Times, 2017)
  “I welcome anger. I want to ask whether the oppressors – the ones responsible for making us angry – have they written on their cruelty?”
  
  "The Property of Adivasis," a contribution to the weekly newspaper column, "Adivasi Vimarsh" (Jansatta, 2016) 
  In this editorial, Hari Ram Meena reflects on the concept of property, capitalism, and the where Adivasi ways of life fit into a culture of consumption. He writes:

  ऐसे लोग भ्रम में हैं जो आसानी से आदिवासियों को आलसी और विकास-विरोधी कह देते हैं। आदिवासी उतना ही कमाने में विश्वास करता है, जितने में उसका गुजारा हो जाए। उसे कमाई का संचय नहीं करना। कल की कल देखी जाएगी। आदिवासी जीवन को जीना चाहता है। वह उसे जीना जानता है। जब भी मौसम, माहौल, मस्ती, मौका मिलता है वह गाता है, वह नाचता है। 

  Translated into English:

  The people who call Adivasis lazy and anti-progress are misguided. Adivasis believe in earning only as much as they needed to survive. They do not believe in amassing wealth. Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Adivasis want to live life. They know how to live it. Whenever the season, environment, mood, or opportunity arises, they sing and dance.