As Manipur continues witnessing everyday violence and completes 200 days of internet shutdown amidst deafening silence from the political class, some dissenting voices find their way to register protest. And when it comes to dissent, poets stand in the front row.
Adivasi Poet and activist Jacinta Kerketta – known for her vocal support for the Adivasi cause – has rejected Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Udyman Pratibha Samman, a literary prize awarded by India Today group to honour achievements in vernacular literature.
Turning down the offer, Kerketta, in a social media post, says, “When the Adivasis are attacked across the country - when the tribals in Manipur are suffering every day - when the glories of Adivasi lives have been decimated - how can any award excite the writers and poets?”
She was about to receive this award for her book titled Ishwar aur Bazar - a collection of Hindi poems. The book focuses on the struggle of indigenous communities against the threats from civilisational projects. She had earlier received several national and international awards besides being named among the 22 self-made women of India by Forbes in 2022.
The Jharkhand-born poet, who belongs to the Oraon community, questions the civilisational ethos that considers the nature-worshipping Adivasi communities as ‘uncivilised’ through most of her poems. In her poem titled, ‘Who will answer to us, sir?’, which she wrote for Outlook in November last year, she pertinently asks,
We will fight to the end of days Against this very culture of yours.
But just let us know,
This earth that has been destroyed, Who will answer for that, Sir?
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Read here: The Adivasi Writes Back: A Poem By Jacinta Kerketta
Her latest rejection of this award is also reflective of her concerns over the silence of mainstream media over Manipur and other atrocities against Adivasis across the country.
Speaking to Outlook, Kerketta says, “The mainstream media have enormous power. But they have lost their morality and courage to stand up to the powers that be. They still consider Adivasis as uncivilised and anti-development. There is hardly any tribal representation in these organisations. Possibly because of it, they are unable to uphold the Adivasi causes.”
Referring to uncompassionate coverage of Manipur, she adds, “They have become machines and have lost the human touch. And their silence on Manipur shows it.”
Since May 3, when the violence broke out in Manipur over clashes between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki tribe, more than 200 people have lost their lives. Around 60,000 people have left their homes to dodge the attacks from the other community. While the BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh reportedly resigned in June, taking responsibility for the situation, the party later announced that he decided against quitting considering the ‘sentiment of the people’.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15 – the birth anniversary of renowned Adivasi leader Birsa Munda – addressed a rally at his village and rolled out a Rs 24,000 crore project for 28 lakhs Adivasi population. The BJP has been though lately trying to woo the Adivasi communities, the indigenous activists think that it is nothing but eyewash as his silence over the violence in Manipur shows their ‘reality’.
