On the auspicious occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, declared by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Dhartiyaaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India and the National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI), under the aegis of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, successfully oraganised first ever national tribal literary fest 2025.

The two-day event, celebrates India’s rich tribal literary and cultural heritage and aims to provide a national platform for dialogue, preservation, and promotion of tribal knowledge systems.

The festival commenced with great enthusiasm and reverence, beginning with a floral tribute and garlanding of the statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries, symbolizing the triumph of knowledge and wisdom. The inaugural ceremony resonated with the rhythmic energy of traditional Madia songs and dance, performed by tribal artists, showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of India’s indigenous traditions.

Smt. Meenakshi Jain, Hon’ble Member, Rajya Sabha, reflected on the relationship between literature and cultural freedom, stating, “When the literature of a society is enslaved,

its culture too becomes enslaved.” She underscored the importance of intellectual freedom in nurturing the creative spirit of tribal societies.

Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, MoTA, lauded tribal literature as a powerful medium to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and foster inclusivity in national discourse. She highlighted the Ministry’s continuous efforts toward community-driven development and cultural empowerment. She congratulated NTRI for bringingforth tribal the poets, authors, novelist, story-tellers, artist, publishers across the country on the same platform.

Shri Nirupam Chakma, Member, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes stressed that preserving the languages of small tribal communities. smaller tribal languages is essential to maintaining India’s linguistic plurality. For centuries tribal knowledge systems have flourished through oral traditional folk songs that echo through the hills, tales wishperd by rivers, proverbs the whole moral truth, and festival that marks the cycle of season.

Shri Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS, Chairman and Managing Director, FCI, beautifully connected tribal literature with ancient Vedic traditions, reflecting on the deep ecological consciousness   embedded   in   both.   Quoting   poetically,   he   said: “अक्षर की आकाांक्षा होती है शब्द बने, शब्द की आकाांक्षा होती है क वाक्य बने, वाक्य की

आकाांक्षा होती है क वता बने और क वता की आकाांक्षा होती है क वह महाकाव्य बने।”

He emphasized that “Nature is the greatest teacher,” and that tribal narratives embody this timeless truth.

Prof. B. V. Sharma, Director, Anthropological Survey of India, presented insights into the urgent need for documentation and preservation of tribal oral literature. He outlined several ongoing government programs aimed at safeguarding indigenous knowledge systems and linguistic diversity.

Shri Anant Prakash Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs in his address, emphasized that this Literary fest represents a collective national effort to recognize and integrate tribal literature within India’s larger cultural narrative. He highlighted the Ministry’s

ongoing initiatives for tribal welfare and linguistic preservation, noting that tribal literature is not merely artistic expression but a repository of ecological wisdom and community values.

Prof. Nupur Tiwary, Special Director, NTRI. Prof. Tiwari emphasized that “India’s tribal civilization is as ancient as the earth itself, and tribal communities are the guardians of memory, protectors of nature, and custodians of human balance.”Their language, songs, stories are interwoven with the rhyms of the nature and the moral faric of community life.She underlined the urgent need to preserve indigenous languages, oral traditions, and cultural practices that form the backbone of India’s civilizational wisdom.

Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the National Tribal Literary Fest 2025 stands as a testament to India’s collective resolve to preserve, celebrate, and promote its tribal knowledge systems, oral traditions, and creative expressions. Through poetry, songs, myths, and stories, tribal communities continue to remind the world of a way of life deeply rooted in balance, respect, and sustainability.

The two-day festival will feature panel discussions, poetry recitations, storytelling sessions, and exhibitions that bring together tribal writers, artists, researchers, and policymakers from across the country marking a historic milestone in the ongoing journey of cultural rejuvenation and social justice.