President Droupadi Murmu on Monday addressed the closing ceremony of 22nd Parsi Maha and centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, highlighting the importance of language, culture and indigenous knowledge in nation-building.
Speaking at the event, the President said the Santhal community has a rich tradition of language, literature and culture. However, before the creation of a dedicated script, the Santhali language was written in multiple scripts such as Roman, Devanagari, Odia and Bengali, often leading to incorrect pronunciation.
She recalled that in 1925, Pandit Raghunath Murmu developed the Ol Chiki script, which has since emerged as a powerful symbol of Santhal identity and cultural assertion.
President Murmu said she recently had the opportunity to release the Constitution of India translated into Santhali using the Ol Chiki script on December 25, marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She expressed confidence that Santhali-speaking people would now be able to read and understand the Constitution in their mother tongue.
Emphasising the role of education, the President said that alongside learning other languages, acquiring education in Santhali through the Ol Chiki script is essential for the holistic development of the Santhal community. She appreciated the efforts of writers and language enthusiasts working to promote and preserve the Santhali language.
The President also underlined the importance of environment conservation, noting that tribal communities, including the Santhals, follow an environment-friendly lifestyle from which society at large can learn.
Highlighting the strength of oral traditions and folk songs in Santhali literature, she said many writers are enriching the language through their literary contributions. She urged writers to use their work to spread awareness and empowerment within tribal communities.
President Murmu said language and literature play a vital role in binding communities together. She stressed the need for greater literary exchange through translations to connect Santhali with other languages and vice versa. Expressing confidence in the All India Santhali Writers’ Association, she said the organisation would play a key role in taking these efforts forward.
