Writing the Asur Self:
Resistance and Identity in Sushma Asur’s “The Mountain’s
Home Is Gone”
Anjali Smriti Tirkey¹*, Dr. Radha
Madhab Jha²
ABSTRACT
Preserving tribal heritage has become a
significant globe concern. Tribal literature, though part of Indian
literary studies, remains largely underexplored. Mainstream
literature often privileges elite languages and narratives,
marginalizing indigenous voices. Rooted in oral traditions such as
myths, songs, folktales, and rituals, tribal literature goes beyond
creative expression. Contemporary tribal writers employ literature
as a medium of resistance, documentation of lived experiences, and
identity preservation. With indigenous languages rapidly declining,
recording oral narratives in written form is crucial for
safeguarding cultural heritage. This paper seeks to draw attention
to themes of identity, resistance, and self–representation
emphasizing the importance of traditional knowledge, language and
rituals in the poetry of Sushma Asur, an emerging feminine voice
from the Asur community. Through textual analysis, the study
examines land alienation, gendered oppression, and cultural and
ecological erosion reflected in her poetry, representing the
struggles, history, and cultural consciousness of tribal women.
Keywords: Asur community, Myth and reinterpretation, Marginalized
voices, Iron–smelters
