Why in news: The President of India highlighted the role of language and literature in social cohesion during the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script and Santali Language Day, underscoring the cultural significance of Santhali.
About Santhali Language
oSanthali is one of India’s oldest living tribal languages, spoken primarily by the Santhal tribe.
oIt is recognised under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Origin & Linguistic Family
Belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family.
Linguistically distinct from Indo-European and Dravidian languages.
Historically transmitted through oral traditions—songs, folklore, myths, and rituals.
Ol Chiki Script
Developed in: 1925
Creator: Pandit Raghunath Murmu
Significance:
oProvided Santhali with a distinct written script, strengthening linguistic identity.
oDesigned as a phonetic and scientific script, accurately capturing Santhali sounds.
oReplaced earlier dependence on borrowed scripts (Bengali, Devanagari, Odia).
Current Status
1Constitutional recognition: Included in the Eighth Schedule through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
2Speakers: About 7 million speakers in India.
3Geographical spread: Mainly in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar; also spoken in Nepal and Bangladesh.
Key Features
1Distinct script: Ol Chiki, unique among tribal languages.
2Austroasiatic traits:
oAgglutinative structure
oTonal elements
oExtensive use of suffixes
3Rich oral heritage: Folk songs, myths, storytelling reflecting Santhal history, ecology, and social life.
4Cultural identity: Language and script serve as symbols of tribal dignity, unity, and continuity.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
