Tribal Culture and Literature Books Top Picks at Jharkhand Kitab Utsav
The Jharkhand Kitab Utsav festival concluded with a grand celebration of tribal culture, literature, and politics, attracting thousands of attendees.
RANCHI – On its final day, the Jharkhand Kitab Utsav (Book Festival) culminated with a vibrant poetry evening featuring tribal poets.
Vandana Tete, a prominent figure in tribal literature, effectively coordinated the poetry session.
The festival’s penultimate session was dedicated to ‘Legacy Creators’, honoring the contributions of Raghunath Murmu, Lako Bodra, Pandit Ayata Oraon, and Pyara Kerketta.
Speakers like Doomani Mai Murmu, Dayamani Sinku, Premchand Oraon, and Dr. Tarkeleng Kullu paid tribute to these heritage makers through their memoirs.
A highlight of the festival was the discussion on Yogendra Nath Sinha’s literary works, mainly focused on tribal lifestyles, in the ‘Our Jharkhand Our Pride’ session.
Vidya Bhushan, a senior litterateur, spoke about Sinha’s dedication to storytelling, particularly his 56 stories set against the tribal community backdrop.
In the afternoon, the festival recognized winners of the Tribal Cuisine Competition from Adivasi Mahotsav 2023, with awards presented by Mahua Maji.
Mahua Maji, during her session on ‘Literature and Politics’, emphasized how literature has influenced her sensitive approach in politics.
She also commented on the new Forest Bill by the Central Government, critiquing it as a move to plunder the forests.
Maji’s discussion extended to the formation of a Sahitya Academy in Jharkhand, reflecting her intertwining of literature and political life.
The festival, a joint venture between Rajkamal Prakashan and Dr. Ramdayal Munda, Tribal Welfare Research Institute, saw its highest interest in books related to tribal culture and literature.
Thousands of participants experienced the rich tapestry of Jharkhand’s tribal heritage through various sessions, discussions, and book exhibitions over seven days.
