Relevance: GS I (Art & Culture – Languages & Scripts) | Source: Ministry of Culture / PIB
1. The Context: A Cultural Milestone
The Ministry of Culture is commemorating 100 Years of the Ol Chiki Script (created in 1925) on February 16, 2026.
- The Event: Held in New Delhi, the celebration is graced by President Droupadi Murmu (herself from the Santhal community), highlighting the script’s significance to tribal identity.
- Key Releases: A commemorative stamp and coin are being released to honor this legacy.
2. About Ol Chiki Script
- Creator: Invented by Pandit Raghunath Murmu (revered as “Guru Gomke” or Great Teacher) in 1925.
- Why it was needed: Before this, Santhali was written in Bengali, Odia, or Roman scripts. However, these scripts could not accurately capture the unique sounds and tones of the Santhali language.
- Scientific Design: Unlike other Indian scripts which are often syllabic, Ol Chiki is an alphabet system. Its letter shapes are not random; they are derived from shapes found in nature (like the earth, tools, or ploughs) to make it easier for the tribal community to learn.
3. The Santhali Language & Tribe
- Language Family: It belongs to the Austroasiatic (Munda) language family, making it distinct from the Indo-Aryan (Hindi) or Dravidian (Tamil) groups.
- Constitutional Status: It was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003 (along with Bodo, Dogri, and Maithili).
- The Tribe: The Santhals are the largest tribal group in Jharkhand. They are historically famous for the Santhal Hool (Rebellion) of 1855, a major uprising against the British led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
| Fact / Provision | Relevance for Prelims |
| Guru Gomke | The honorific title given to Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the inventor of the Ol Chiki script. |
| Article 29(1) | A Fundamental Right stating that any section of citizens having a distinct language, script, or culture of its own has the right to conserve the same. |
| Sohrai | The principal harvest festival of the Santhal community, celebrated during the winter season. |
With reference to the “Ol Chiki” script, often seen in the news, consider the following statements:
- It was created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in the early 20th century to write the Santhali language.
- Santhali belongs to the Dravidian family of languages.
- Santhali was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by the 92nd Amendment Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
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