Bengali writer and activist Mahasweta Devi, who passed away in 2016, championed the dignity of marginalized communities, particularly tribal groups. Her work, spanning fiction and essays, emphasized that human beings and their lives should not be reduced to mere statistics, policy targets, or political calculations. Devi, known for her plain speech and fierce advocacy, used her writings and activism to expose exploitation and campaign for the rights and recognition of the Adivasi people, valuing human lives above accolades.