Author Feature:- 

Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar 

A Literary Voice from the Santhal Community. Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is an Indian author and a medical doctor, born in 1983 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He belongs to the Santhal community, one of India’s indigenous Adivasi groups. His literary works often reflect the experiences, struggles, and challenges faced by his community.

Professionally, Shekhar serves as a medical officer with the government of Jharkhand. Despite his demanding career in healthcare, he continues to pursue his passion of writing, skillfully balancing his dual roles as a writer and a healthcare professional.

About The Book - 

"The Adivasi Will Not Dance"

In 2015, he published 'The Adivasi Will Not Dance' a collection of short stories that received critical acclaim and was shortlisted for 'The Hindu' Prize. His subsequent novel, My Father’s Garden (2018), further established his literary reputation and was shortlisted for the prestigious JCB Prize for Literature in 2019.

Through his writings, Shekhar provides a poignant and authentic voice to the Santhal community, shedding light on their rich culture, hardships, and resilience in contemporary India. His work stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in bringing marginalized narratives to the forefront.

The stories in the collection highlight issues such as displacement, exploitation, poverty, and the erosion of indigenous culture. The title story, Adivasi Will Not Dance, is particularly powerful, as it depicts an elderly Santhal man refusing to perform a traditional dance for politicians, symbolizing resistance against oppression.

Shekhar’s writing blends realism with a deep emotional connection to Adivasi life, capturing both the beauty and pain of their existence. The book also faced controversy, with some accusing it of portraying the Santhal community in a negative light, leading to a temporary ban in Jharkhand.

ADIVASIS : THE CHILDREN OF NATURE