Constitution in the Santhali Language

President Droupadi Murmu recently released the Constitution of India in Santhali, using the Ol Chiki script, a move described not merely as a translation but as an act of identity assertion.

About Santhals

• Santhals are India’s third-largest tribe (over 7 million people), primarily located in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.

About the Ol Chiki Script

• The Ol Chiki script, invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, is currently observing its centenary. 

Constitutional Status of Santhali 

• Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule: Santhali was not included in the original Constitution, but was added to the Eighth Schedule in 2003 through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act. 
• Role of Political Leadership: The move was catalysed by Droupadi Murmu, then a Minister in Odisha, who insisted that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee grant it official status. 
• Scope of the 92nd Constitutional Amendment: The 92nd Amendment also added Bodo, Dogri, and Maithili to the Eighth Schedule.

Significance of the Release of the Constitution in Santhali

• Honouring Jaipal Singh Munda: The release honours the vision of Jaipal Singh Munda, a legendary hockey captain and Constituent Assembly member who advocated for tribal recognition and spoke in the Mundari language during assembly sessions.
• Empowerment: The event is not merely symbolic, as it ensures that communities can read their rights, defend their rights, and celebrate their rights in their own script.
  • This represents a shift from procedural democracy to substantive democracy.

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Sociological Debate of Language vs. Thought

• Lev Vygotsky: He was a Soviet psychologist who argued that language shapes thought and plays a vital role in cognitive development. He viewed language as a social tool through which higher mental functions develop.
• Jean Piaget: He was a Swiss scholar who believed that thought precedes language, asserting that cognitive development occurs first, with language emerging later as an expression of existing mental structures.
• Contemporary Relevance: In a democracy, language hierarchy shapes politics.
  • Recognising tribal languages goes beyond communication—it validates the thought processes and cognition of tribal communities, reinforcing their cultural and democratic inclusion.

Conclusion

There are plans to extend this inclusivity to other scripts, such as Varang Kshiti for the Ho community, Kurukh language for the Oraon community, and Nag Mundari for the Mundari community.

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