President Murmu graces 'Antarrajyiy Jansanskritik Samagam Samaroh - Kartik Jatra' at Gumla
Gumla, December 30
President Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed Antarrajyiy Jansanskritik Samagam Samaroh - Kartik Jatra at Gumla, Jharkhand on Tuesday.
According to an official release, the President said that visiting Jharkhand, the birthplace and workplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, feels like a pilgrimage to her.
"He is revered by all of us as a great symbol of social justice and tribal pride," she said.
President Murmu stated that Pankhraj Saheb Kartik Oraon strengthened tribal consciousness and identity in accordance with the ideals of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. "Kartik Oraon Ji dedicated his life to the upliftment of the tribal community and the nation. He worked to expand education and strengthen social unity. We should resolve to work for the overall development of society and the country by following his ideals," she noted.
The President noted that there is a long list of great tribal heroes from this region. She said the government is working to familiarise people in India with their heroic tales by establishing tribal museums. "However, it is the responsibility of every individual and institution associated with the heritage of the tribal community to ensure that the contributions of these tribal heroes, from this region and all other regions, are made known to the youth and future generations of the country," President Murmu said.
The President said that it is crucial to connect the youth and future generations with the traditions of tribal communities. While preserving their tribal heritage and identity, our youth must move forward rapidly on the path of modern development. She expressed confidence that all members of the tribal communities will continue to move forward on the path of progress, while preserving our heritage.
Earlier on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the closing ceremony of the 22nd Parsi Maha and the centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said, "The Santhals have their own language, literature, and culture. However, a century ago, due to the lack of a script for the Santhali language, various scripts such as Roman, Devanagari, Odia, and Bengali were used. In these scripts, many Santhali words could not be pronounced correctly. In 1925, Pandit Raghunath Murmu created the Ol Chiki script. Since then, this script has become a powerful symbol of the Santhal identity."
The President added that she got an opportunity to release the Constitution of India in the Santhali language, written in the Ol Chiki script, on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on December 25, 2025. She expressed confidence that now Santhali-speaking people will be able to read and understand the Constitution written in their mother tongue and Ol Chiki script.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Preserving tribal heritage while embracing modern development is the perfect balance we need. The initiative to have the Constitution in Santhali language is a great step towards inclusivity. More power to our diverse cultures!
While I appreciate the sentiment, I hope these cultural events and museums translate into real, on-ground improvements in education, healthcare, and livelihood for tribal communities. Celebrating heritage is important, but so is addressing present-day challenges respectfully.
As someone from outside India, it's fascinating to learn about the rich tribal history and scripts like Ol Chiki. The diversity within India is truly remarkable. The President's focus on connecting youth with these traditions is crucial anywhere in the world.
Bhagwan Birsa Munda is a national icon. It's good that the government is setting up museums, but as President Murmu said, it's also our responsibility to learn and teach these stories to our children. Our history textbooks should have more on tribal freedom fighters.
The release of the Constitution in Santhali is a powerful symbol. Imagine reading the supreme law of your land in your mother tongue! This is real empowerment. More regional and tribal languages should get this recognition. 👏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.