Resistance of the Aboriginals and the Adivasis: A Comparative Analysis of the Selective Poems of Judith Wright and Indian Adivasi Poets

Abstract

The primitive people used poetry as a tool to express their feelings, emotions, victories, agonies for administrative power and convey their bravery stories, puzzles, riddles. It also encompassed the creation myths of the universe, planets, flora, fauna, and humankind, which were orally transmitted across generations. Adivasi or Aboriginal communities utilized storytelling, folklore, dances, and traditional tattoos to communicate their cultural identity, rituals, customs, and traditions. These narratives included descriptions of landscapes, seasonal cycles, and traditional ecological management of the five natural elements: air, water, fire, sky, and land. The arrival of White Settlers led to the displacement of many Aboriginal peoples, who were often forced into slavery in foreign lands. This colonization resulted in significant impacts, including the loss of land, identity, culture, traditions, ancestral worship, and sacred sites, as well as experiences of humiliation and marginalization, even in the post-colonial era, and conversion to Christianity. Few poets, both nationally and internationally, have vocally opposed colonialism, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Aboriginal communities’ identities, rights, and the preservation of their artistic, cultural, and linguistic heritage. This paper critically examines the portrayal of Aboriginals’ connection to their native land, the disappearance of traditional rituals, the anguish of losing loved ones, and the scars and horrors of war through the poetic works of Judith Wright, Susheela Samad, Shanmuga Chettiyar, Arivu, and Jacinda Kerketta.