Subverting Silences: Literary Representations of Gender in Rejina Marandi's Becoming Me (2014) and Hansda Sovendra Shekhar's The Adivasi Will Not Dance (2015)

Abstract This paper explores the gender representation of the Santal community in Triabl literature in English. The paper focuses on how indigenous narratives portray the roles, identities, and struggles of Santal men and women. Tribal literature is rooted in oral traditions and lived experiences, offers a unique lens through which the socio-cultural dynamics of the Santals are articulated. The study examines contemporary literary texts of two Santal writers including Rejina Marandi’s Becoming Me (2014) and Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s The Adivasi Will Not Dance (2015). It highlights the dual marginalization of Santal women both as Tribal and as women, while also acknowledging instances of agency, resistance, and empowerment within their communities. Through an intersectional analysis, the paper reveals how gendered experiences in Santal society are deeply intertwined with issues of land, labor, identity, and resistance against dominant hegemonies. Ultimately, the paper argues for a more nuanced understanding of gender in Tribal literature in English, one that moves beyond stereotypes and recognizes the complexity of indigenous life and expression in the contemporary global context.By employing intersectional and postcolonial feminist frameworks, this study analyzes the ways in which gender identity, sexuality, and resistance are constructed and articulated within the socio-cultural landscapes of indigenous communities in India. Through close readings, the paper investigates how the authors challenge hegemonic narratives, confront systemic marginalization, and redefine gender roles in tribal contexts. Keywords: Santal women, Indigenous narratives, marginalised literature, gendered resistance, women agency