Shakuntala Mishra

She was born in Gumla district of Bihar (Now Jharkhand) into a Brahmin family. Her mother tongue was Nagpuri. Her grandmother used to tell her various stories. She started writing the stories as a child. Then Jai Jharkhand Magazine was published by Dr. Bisheshwar Prasad Keshari from Daltonganj. Her writing was published in the magazine. She wrote her first poem Nehak Doir and it was aired in Aakashvani in 1982. Then she wrote Sukhu Kahani which was based on witchcraft and it was published in Magazine Pajhra which was edited by Girdhari Ram Gonjhu. At that time only Master of Arts course was available in Nagpuri. Despite opposition from her family members, she studied Nagpuri in M.A. She wanted to do something for her language. When she was in M.A final, her written Sukhu Kahani was included in course. Then her work Pardesi Beta was published during her studies.[2]

She worked in Baldev Sahu Mahavidyalaya in Lohardaga for five years. Her maternal great-grandfather Pradumnath Pathak was a Nagpuri poet. His poetry was a subject of discussion in the family. His father Jageshwar Mishra encouraged her in writing. Then she started work in Nagpuri. She prepared a Nagpuri-Hindi dictionary. Then she wrote Nagpuri Vyakran, the grammar. Her published story Sato Nadi Par was included in the Nagpuri Bachelor of Arts course. When she was student, no books were available in Nagpuri. The study of Nagpuri was conducted with manuscripts. She told Balu Kherwar who was raised in her house to collect manuscripts of different poets and writers. She published books by collecting manuscripts. In 2007, a shop was opened by name of Jharkhand Jharokha and selling of books started under the name of Jharkhand Jharokha publication. The publication published more than 100 books. The shop is notable for books in regional and tribal languages of Jharkhand.[2]

Some of her prominent works are as follows.[2]

• Nehak Doir
• Sukhu Kahani
• Nagpuri Sadani Vyakaran
• Sadani Nagpuri-Hindi Sabdkosh
• Sato Nadi Par