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Nilotpal Mrinal Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 December 1984

Age37 Years (as of 2021)

BirthplaceDumka, Jharkhand

ProfessionNovelist, Poet, Socio-political Activist, Social Media Influencer, Folk Singer

NationalityIndia

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyOriginally from a Bihari family hailing from Sangrampur, Munger, Bihar

Nilotpal Mrinal Biography

Nilotpal Mrinal is an Indian novelist, poet, folk singer and socio-political activist from Dumka, Jharkhand. He rose to public attention with his debut 201

Early life and background

Nilotpal Mrinal was born on 25 December 1984 in Dumka, Jharkhand. He hails from a family with roots in Sangrampur, Munger, Bihar. Raised in Jharkhand, Mrinal completed his schooling at Rani Sonawati Kumari Government +2 High School in Nonihat and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.

As a young student he developed a habit of writing early in the morning and cultivated an interest in poetry and performance. After graduation in 2005 he moved to Delhi in 2008 to prepare for the Civil Services Examination and spent several years as a UPSC aspirant in Mukherjee Nagar, repeatedly attempting the exam while also taking part in student movements.

Career

Mrinal transitioned from an aspirant for the civil services into a writer and performer. His first novel, Dark Horse: Ek Ankahi Dastan, appeared in 2015. The book draws on the world of Civil Services aspirants and their struggles, a subject he knew intimately from his years in Mukherjee Nagar. Dark Horse brought him national recognition and earned him the Sahitya Akademi Youth Award in 2016.

Following Dark Horse, Mrinal published the novels Aughad (2019) and Yaar Jadugar (2021). Aughad examines rural life and socio-political structures, addressing issues such as caste, gender, religious hypocrisy and village power dynamics. Both Dark Horse and Aughad reached the Dainik Jagran Best Seller list, with Dark Horse appearing at number one and Aughad among the top ranks.

Beyond novels, Mrinal has been active in audio narration and folk music. He narrated and voiced the audiobook Jakh Baba for Storytel in 2019, and in 2020 he wrote and voiced the Audible audiobook Darling Democracy, which focuses on village politics and reservation issues ahead of a panchayat election. He has recorded folk songs and released material such as Chal Sadho Koi Desh (2019) and Jagmag Kare Ee Sansaar (2020). His self-titled YouTube channel features songs and poems and has a substantial follower base.

Mrinal’s literary journey began under difficult circumstances: after writing his first book quickly he faced rejection by many publishers at a book fair before an independent publisher eventually issued an ISBN and published Dark Horse. When book sales did not immediately provide stable income, he turned to live performances of poetry and qawwalis to connect with audiences and supplement his earnings.

Activism and public causes

Mrinal has been an active socio-political voice. In 2015 he led and participated in protests related to the introduction of the CSAT component of the Civil Services Examination, including an indefinite hunger strike demanding compensatory attempts for affected aspirants; he and other protesters confronted police action during that movement.

In 2017 he successfully campaigned for the removal of an online image he considered derogatory toward people of Bihar. He followed that campaign by releasing the song Haan Main Bihari Hun. In 2019 he launched a social media campaign called Gamcha Revolution after an incident in which he was denied entry to a restaurant for carrying a gamchha; the episode prompted public discussion about regional identity and dress and led to a public apology from the restaurant.

Public profile

Mrinal is known for his presence across media: as a novelist in Hindi, as a performing poet and folk singer, and as a social-media influencer. He has penned poems such as Duniya Esi Hua Karti Thi, Ab To Lagta Hai Desh Veerana, and Hum Hi To Kal Itihaas Likhenge. He has also received recognitions including the Sahitya Akademi Youth Award and the Bihar Gaurav Samman.

His public persona includes appearances in interviews and recorded performances, and his work often explores political and social themes rooted in rural and aspirant life in India. His catchphrase is reported as Jai ho.

Controversies and legal matters

Mrinal’s public life has at times been contentious. In 2021 he alleged that a popular web series borrowed material from his 2015 novel and indicated an intent to pursue legal action; the production company responded that it would investigate the claim. In 2022 a criminal complaint was registered against him following an accusation by a woman; the matter was reported in the press and became part of his public record.

Latest updates

In recent years Mrinal continued publishing and performing: he released Aughad in 2019 and Yaar Jadugar in 2021, contributed audiobooks to Storytel and Audible, and remained active on his YouTube channel and social media. He has also continued to use music and public campaigns to engage with issues of regional pride and social justice.

Personal life

Nilotpal Mrinal’s official public details list him as unmarried. He is approximately 178 cm tall and has black hair and black eyes. He identifies as Indian and is associated with Dumka, Jharkhand as his hometown.
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Recent Work

Yaar Jadugar

Novel published in 2021

2021
Aughad

Novel exploring rural socio-political life, published in 2019

2019
Jakh Baba (audiobook)

Narrated and voiced for Storytel

2019
Darling Democracy (audiobook)

Penned and voiced for Audible

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut novel Dark Horse: Ek Ankahi Dastan (2015)
  2. Sahitya Akademi Youth Award (2016)
  3. Authored Aughad (2019) and Yaar Jadugar (2021)
  4. Narrated audiobooks for Storytel and Audible
  5. Launched social campaigns including Gamcha Revolution
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nilotpal Mrinal born?

25 December 1984

What is Nilotpal Mrinal known for?

Novelist, Poet, Socio-political Activist, Social Media Influencer, Folk Singer

What is Nilotpal Mrinal’s marital status?

Unmarried