President Murmu Sings Childhood Santhali Prayer and Speaks Fully in Mother Tongue at Ol Chiki Centenary
President Murmu sings Santhali prayer and speaks in Santhali at Ol Chiki centenary, urging tribal language preservation.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday delivered a powerful message on cultural preservation while addressing the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district. The event was held at the sacred Dishom Jaherthan complex in Karandih and marked 100 years of the script that gave written form to the Santhali language.
Paying homage to Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the creator of the Ol Chiki script, the President described his contribution as a cornerstone of Santhali cultural pride and self-respect. She emphasized that the script not only preserved language but also strengthened the collective identity of the tribal community.
In a deeply emotional moment, President Murmu began the programme by singing a traditional Santhali Nehor prayer, which she said she had learned during her childhood. The song invokes Jaher Ayo, or Mother Nature, seeking guidance for society to walk the path of light and harmony.
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Notably, the President delivered her entire address in the Santhali language, underscoring the importance of linguistic inclusion. She stressed that after Santhali’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, governance, laws, and administrative information must reach people in their native language.
She also termed the publication of the Constitution in the Ol Chiki script by the Union government as a landmark step towards empowering the Santhali community. At the ceremony, 12 individuals were honoured for their outstanding contributions to promoting the Santhali language and script.
Governor Santosh Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren also addressed the gathering, reaffirming their commitment to tribal development. The Chief Minister reiterated the state government’s resolve to preserve Santhali language, culture, and tribal identity for future generations.
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