Nirmala Putul was born in 1972, in a Santhali Adivasi (tribal) family. She writes in the Indian tribal language, Santali. She has a diploma in nursing. A collection of her poems Nagare Ki Tarah Bajte Hain Shabad (Words resound like drums) was published in 2004.
Nirmala Putul counterpoises her tribal world with the ‘developed’ modern world. Her poetry questions the whole notion of ‘development’ and ‘progress’ in modern civilization. Her poetry is very musical and full of nature imagery. There is an echo of tribal songs in her work.
