Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar (born 1983) is an Indian writer from Santhal tribe in Jharkhand, best known for his literary works that explore the lives, experiences, and struggles of indigenous communities in India, particularly focusing on tribal cultures.

[1] His debut novel, The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey (2014), received widespread critical acclaim for its portrayal of tribal life and social issues.

[3] His stories are rich in "fine details that add to the deep dimensions" and "open to us a world we have deliberately dismissed" [4] and contain "a surplus of understanding that comes from a kind insider-outsider.

[47][48][49] The jury commented: “A novel of epic stature told with great beauty and brevity, it's [sic] power is felt viscerally in Hansda Sowvendra’s Shekhar’s translation.

Manoj Rupda plays on the theme that everything grand is eventually destroyed, be it a majestic elephant, a ship, or an entire tribal civilization eaten away by a corrupt society.