President Murmu Sings in Santhali at Ol Chiki Centenary, Urges Protection of Tribal Language and Heritage

Jamshedpur — President Droupadi Murmu on Monday stressed the importance of safeguarding traditional knowledge, language, culture, and tribal identity while attending the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script of the Santhali language in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district.

The programme was organised at the Dishom Jaherthan place of worship complex in Karandih. Paying homage to Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the creator of the Ol Chiki script, the President said his contribution was instrumental in strengthening the cultural identity and self-respect of the Santhali community.

Before delivering her address, President Murmu sang a traditional Santhali Nehor prayer for nearly three minutes. She shared that she learned the song during her childhood and said it is a prayer to Jaher Ayo, or Mother Nature, seeking guidance towards truth and light.

The President addressed the gathering entirely in Santhali. She described her visit to the sacred site as emotionally moving, stating that she felt the affection of her people and the blessings of the deities.

She lauded the efforts of Santhali writers and social workers for their continued work in preserving the Ol Chiki script and the language, saying they are carrying forward the unfinished mission of Pandit Raghunath Murmu. She also called the Union government’s initiative to publish the Constitution in the Ol Chiki script a landmark step towards empowering the community.

Emphasising inclusive governance, President Murmu said that after Santhali’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, it is essential that information related to laws and administration is communicated to the community in its own language.

At the event, the President honoured 12 individuals for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of the Santhali language and Ol Chiki script. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren also addressed the gathering.

With inputs from  IANS