Eminent Santali writer and Padma Shri awardee Rabilal Tudu passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in Santali literature and cultural activism. His demise has cast a shadow of grief across the Santali literary community, with writers, scholars, readers, and cultural organizations mourning the loss of one of the most respected voices in contemporary Santali literature.
Eminent Santali writer and Padma Shri awardee Rabilal Tudu passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in Santali literature and cultural activism. His demise has cast a shadow of grief across the Santali literary community, with writers, scholars, readers, and cultural organizations mourning the loss of one of the most respected voices in contemporary Santali literature.
Eminent Santali writer and Padma Shri awardee Rabilal Tudu passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in Santali literature and cultural activism. His demise has cast a shadow of grief across the Santali literary community, with writers, scholars, readers, and cultural organizations mourning the loss of one of the most respected voices in contemporary Santali literature.
Eminent Santali writer and Padma Shri awardee Rabilal Tudu passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in Santali literature and cultural activism. His demise has cast a shadow of grief across the Santali literary community, with writers, scholars, readers, and cultural organizations mourning the loss of one of the most respected voices in contemporary Santali literature.
Eminent Santali writer and Padma Shri awardee Rabilal Tudu passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in Santali literature and cultural activism. His demise has cast a shadow of grief across the Santali literary community, with writers, scholars, readers, and cultural organizations mourning the loss of one of the most respected voices in contemporary Santali literature.
Born on 21 December 1949 in Nowara village of Purba Bardhaman district in West Bengal, Rabilal Tudu dedicated his life to the promotion and development of the Santali language. Alongside his professional career in the banking sector, he pursued literary activities with remarkable passion and emerged as one of the leading playwrights and literary figures of the Santali community.
Rabilal Tudu was widely known for his contribution to Santali drama, theatre, and radio plays. His writings reflected the social realities, traditions, struggles, and aspirations of the Santali people. Through his literary works, he helped preserve indigenous knowledge and brought Santali language and culture to a wider audience.
His most celebrated work, Parsi Khatir, earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015, making him one of the most distinguished literary personalities in Santali literature. The award brought national recognition to his literary achievements and further strengthened the visibility of Santali writing in India’s literary landscape.
In 2022, the Government of West Bengal honoured him with the Banga Bhushan Award for his outstanding contribution to literature and culture. Earlier this year, the Government of India conferred upon him the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to literature and education.
The news of his passing comes just months after he received the Padma Shri, making the loss even more poignant for the Santali community. Tributes have begun pouring in from literary circles, cultural organizations, and admirers across the country, who remember him as a humble writer, cultural ambassador, and tireless advocate of Santali language and literature.
With the passing of Rabilal Tudu, Santali literature has lost one of its finest storytellers and playwrights. However, his literary works and his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Santali language will continue to inspire future generations.
