Activist-writer Rose Kerketta, who spent her life fighting for Jharkhand’s ‘Jal, Jungle, Zameen’, passes away at 84

Kerketta, writer in Adivasi Kharia and Hindi languages, an eminent educationist, Jharkhand movement activist, and staunch advocate of women’s human rights, breathed her last after prolonged illness on April 17 at the age of 84. One of the leading voices of the Jharkhand movement – which led to the formation of the Jharkhand state in 2000 — and a prolific writer on Adivasi rights, she was laid to rest at the GEL Church cemetery in Ranchi.

Born on December 5, 1940, in Kaisara village (now in Simdega district), she was a prominent voice for the Kharia Adivasi community and dedicated her life to preserving and promoting tribal languages and cultures. An alumna of Simdega College under Ranchi University, Dr. Kerketta authored several significant works, including ‘Kharia Lok Kathaon Ka Sahitik Aur Sanskritik Adhyayan’, ‘Premchandao Ludkoe’ (a Kharia translation of a story by Premchand), and ‘Sinkoe Sulolo’, a collection of Kharia stories. Her contributions earned her numerous literary accolades, among them the Madhya Pradesh government’s ‘Rani Durgawati’ award.

She is survived by her husband, Sureshchandra Tete, and their children, Vandana Tete and Sonal Prabhajan Tete.

The fight for Jharkhand

After beginning her professional career in 1967 as a librarian at Simdega College, she eventually taught at the Patel Montessori School in HEC (1975), and became a Hindi professor at Sisai College (1977). It was in 1981, when she joined the Ranchi University as a professor of Kharia language, that her long-term association with Ram Dayal Munda began. Another leading voice of the Jharkhand movement, Ram Dayal Munda, an Indian scholar and regional music exponent who would eventually become the vice-chancellor of Ranchi University, served as the first head of her then newly established department – the faculty of Tribal and Regional Languages.

In her long career, Kerketta was not only challenging patriarchal notions within her own community but also actively contributing to broader social movements through her intellectual engagement. Faizal Anurag, 68, an author and journalist who worked closely with Dr. Kerketta, describes her as a pillar of the three key intellectuals of the Jharkhand Movement.

“She gave a voice to the unheard,” he said. “Although some within the community would occasionally be upset with her, she always managed to win them over with her clarity and conviction.”

Activist Sanjay Basu Mallick, who is also the director of the Ranchi -based Institution of Community Forest Governance, sees her as a prolific writer who addressed a wide range of social issues—not only in the Kharia language but also in Hindi.

“She was the editor of a monthly magazine called Adhi Duniya. She was truly rebellious,” Mallick, who met Kerketta when he was a student at Ranchi University, said.

Kerketta was particularly noted for being an activist for tribal women, working extensively for them in the areas of land rights, trafficking and witch-hunting – or ‘Dayan Pratha’.

“She pushed us to work in remote, risky areas—even where police feared to go,” Cordula Kujur, an activist and member of the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO), who worked with Kerketta as part of the Samvad – the tribal rights organisation of which the latter was chairperson until her death – said. “In the early 2000, we went to Mandar village in Ranchi to support a depressed caste man’s mother who was publicly tortured after he married an Adivasi woman. Rose di stood firmly with us to support the family.”

Chief Minister Hemant Soren tweeted his condolences at Kerketta’s demise.

“Received the sad news of the demise of Dr. Rose Kerketta ji — a renowned writer, poet, and social worker — who gave a strong voice to issues of Jal, Jungle, Jameen, women’s rights, and Jharkhandi identity through her pen. Rose Di has authored many books in both Hindi and the Kharia language,” he wrote.

His post on X further said: “Her passing is an irreparable loss to the literary world and the tribal community. Rose Di is no longer with us, but her thoughts, writings, and way of life will continue to inspire generations to come. Heartfelt tributes to Dr. Rose Kerketta ji”.