Voice of the Voiceless: A Study of the Loss of Language, Landscapes and Roots in the Context of Jacinta Kerketta’s Poems

Abstract

Literature of the indigenous tribes are always antipathetic, resistant micro- narratives from the margins  that record their angst, anger,age old suffering, marginalisation and tales of resilience. A tribe refers to a group of indigenous people residing at a specific geographical location which provides them with all that they need for survival , from time immemorial. Tribal identities are variously named as ‘ aboriginal people’, ‘original inhabitants’ or ‘ adivasis’ at different places according to their geographical location and social ranking which makes them distinctive from others. Like the other tribal groups all over the world, the indigenous tribes of India are also rich in their culture, customs and folk traditions. However  the swift undercurrents of industrialisation along with economic deprivation ultimately left them landless and rootless. Indeed they are facing the gradual but definite death of their distinctive cultural identities. This research paper aims to analyse the pain and trauma experienced by the indigenous people in the wake of the disappearance of their roots, landscape and language within the reference of Jacinta Kerketta’s poetry. Jacinta Kerketta is a budding poet and freelance journalist who has  been successful in articulating the existential fears and chaos of the  Oraon adivasi community to which she belongs. A multi perspectival inquiry into  the marginalisation and trauma faced by those silenced others has been adopted for this research paper.