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?