Tribal Feminism in the Poems of Nirmala Putul

The Adivasi people, termed Scheduled Tribes in India, have their lives intertwined with nature, land, and resources. Their unique relationship with the land informs a particular lived experience that shapes their identity. Within these communities, Adivasi women play a pivotal role in preserving and articulating this knowledge. However, this lived experience, particularly concerning women, has been largely overlooked by mainstream feminism, which often disregards the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and ecological oppression. This paper critically analyzes the poems of Nirmala Putul, an Adivasi poet from Jharkhand, to explore how her work reflects the tribal feminist worldview. It argues for an expansion of feminist discourse by incorporating tribal perspectives that emphasize land, ecology, and community. By adding insights from referenced scholarly works, this paper deepens the understanding of Putul’s poetry as a framework for resistance and empowerment of Adivasi women.