Adivasi Voices Take Centre Stage at Fourth Jaipal–Julius–Hanna Literary Awards
The Fourth Jaipal–Julius–Hanna Literary Awards were presented to three Adivasi writers from Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand on Sunday, 9 November 2025. The award ceremony was held at the Padma Shri Ram Dayal Munda TRI Hall in Ranchi. The writers honoured on the occasion were Kashrai Kudada and Manoj Murmu from Jharkhand, and Sony Rumchu from Arunachal Pradesh. The awards were presented by the chief guest, renowned Adivasi writer and Professor in the Department of Hindi at the University of Delhi, Dr. Snehlata Negi.
The second session of the programme featured a multilingual Durang poetry performance, in which poets, songwriters and traditional singers representing various languages of Jharkhand presented poems and songs. The entire programme was organised by the Pyara Kerketta Foundation, in collaboration with the Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra and the Tata Steel Foundation.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Dr. Snehlata Negi said that the event was not merely an award ceremony but a broad celebration of Adivasi identity and ways of life. She described it as a national celebration of Adivasi languages and literature as well as of the country’s cultural diversity. She said similar initiatives should be undertaken by other Adivasi communities in different parts of the country so that they can articulate their own concerns and take their voices to the wider world.
Praising Jharkhand, she observed that Adivasi writers and intellectuals in the state are actively writing in their own languages and that new writers are also being given opportunities. She described such efforts as extremely important for preserving Adivasi worldviews, languages and cultures. She further emphasised that linguistic and cultural diversity is a defining feature of Adivasi identity, and that all of us share the responsibility of preserving and sharing this diversity.
The programme began with a welcome address by Gloria Soreng, President of the Pyara Kerketta Foundation. She said that although Jharkhand had completed 25 years of statehood, questions concerning the preservation, teaching and study of Adivasi languages and literature remained largely the same as they had nearly a century ago.
Referring to the memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission in 1928, she noted that Pyara Kerketta of the Kharia Adivasi community had also been among those involved in the decision to demand a separate state. She added that, for the past 24 years, the Foundation has been actively working toward fulfilling the dreams of the early Jharkhand leaders who initiated the struggle for statehood.
Vandna Tete, General Secretary of the Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra, gave a detailed introduction to the awards and the winning participants. She said that the principal objective of the Jaipal–Julius–Hanna Award is to provide Adivasi literature and writers with a global platform. She pointed out that although members of Adivasi communities are writing, there are not enough publishers willing to publish their works, nor is there adequate government support. Referring to distinguished figures such as Jaipal Singh Munda, Julius Tigga and Hanna Bodra, she said that awards instituted in their names would inspire future generations and keep the memory of these personalities alive. She also stressed that Adivasis must write about themselves so that one-sided narratives can be challenged and their experiences can be presented accurately and factually.
The award-winning writers also shared their thoughts on the occasion.
Sony Rumchu, the young poet from Arunachal Pradesh who received the award for his Hindi poetry collection "Wah Keval Ped Nahin Tha" (It Was Not Just a Tree), said this was the first time he had received such an opportunity. He said that he belongs to the Olo (Nocte) Adivasi community, which lives in the far north of Arunachal Pradesh and has a population of around ten thousand. He added that he is the first person from his community to have pursued higher education up to the PhD level. Sharing his experiences, he said that although people from the Northeast consider themselves Indian, they continue to face discrimination and are still subjected to derogatory terms such as “chinky” and “Chinese.” He said that through his poetry he has tried to express the experiences of his community, his region and his own personal life.
Kashrai Kudada, who was honoured for "Dupub Dishum", a collection of essays written in the Ho language and Warang Chiti script, said that he has been working for Ho language and literature since his student days. Kudada, a resident of Jamshedpur, spoke about his cultural activities and observed that Adivasi communities are still waiting for the government to undertake responsibilities that it should have fulfilled long ago. He described the Jaipal–Julius–Hanna Award as an inspiring initiative for the preservation of Adivasi languages and literature.
Manoj Murmu, who received the award for his Santali poetry collection "Manwa Jiyon", described the honour as a memorable moment in his life. He said that he began writing consciously after 2020. A young poet from Talbariya village in Sahibganj district, Murmu said that his poems express the emotions and experiences of Santali society, particularly those of young people.
During the main session, Shivshankar Kadiyong, Lead at the Tata Steel Foundation, delivered the vote of thanks. He said that the Foundation has been running teaching and training centres in Adivasi languages for nearly two decades in Jharkhand as well as in several other states. He said that the national Adivasi award had also given new recognition to their work. He further suggested that manuscripts that could not be awarded this year should also be published, and said that the Tata Steel Foundation was prepared to extend all possible support in this direction.
The award session was conducted by Dr. Preeti Ranjana Dungdung. It was followed by the second session, which featured multilingual poetry recitations and performances. Songs and poems were presented in Bhumij, Mal Pahariya, Asur, Birjia, Kharia, Ho, Munda, Santali, Kurmali, Khortha, Sadri, Panchpargania and Kurukh.
Among the prominent poets and singers who participated were Bhikha Asur (Asur), Monika Singh (Bhumij), Saroj Telra (Birjia), Sushanti Boypai (Ho), Dr. Kiran Kullu (Kharia), Amit Kumar (Khortha), Geeta Koya (Kurukh), Dr. Vrindavan Mahato (Kurmali), Jadu Munda and Bilkan Dang (Mundari), Vishnu Charan Singh Munda (Panchpargania), Sushma Kerketta, Salomi Ekka and Dr. Alam Ara (Nagpuri), and Manoj Murmu (Santali). In addition, Asur Lur Akhra, Netarhat, and Birjia Lur Akhra, Ranchi, presented traditional dances and songs. The session was conducted by Shanti Sawaiyan.
At the conclusion of the programme, the formal vote of thanks was delivered by Rebeka Topno. To mark 25 years of Jharkhand statehood, two video songs produced by Ashwini Kumar Pankaj were also screened. The Pyara Kerketta Foundation also organised an exhibition of books.
Throughout the ceremony, the auditorium remained packed with members of the public as well as prominent citizens of the city, reflecting the wide reach and significance of the programme.
Report Presented By: KM Singh Munda