CM bats for use of Ol Chiki script at railway stations in Santhal-dominated areas

Ranchi: Chief minister Raghubar Das has advocated the use of Ol Chiki script at railway stations as well as at schools and government establishments in Santhal-dominated regions in the state. On Tuesday, Das wrote to Union railways minister, Piyush Goyal, requesting him to use Ol Chiki in railway station name boards in Santhal Pargana as well as in East Singbhum.
“Use of Ol Chiki at railway stations along with other related activities will help in promoting the language, besides instilling a sense of pride among the locals in Santhal-dominated areas,” said Das in the letter that was shared by the CMO with the press.

Citing how the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave Santhali language due recognition by including it in the 8th schedule of Constitution, Das appealed to Goyal to consider the demand. Das also directed officials to put up signboards in Ol Chiki in government schools and offices in Santhal Pargana and in East Singhbhum.

Director of Santali Academy at Sido Kanhu Murmu University-Dumka, Sujit Soren, talking to TOI said that compared to other states where a large number of Santhalis reside, use of Ol Chiki is at a very nascent stage in Jharkhand. Besides Jharkhand, Santhalis are spread across Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Tripura and even across the border in Nepal and Bangladesh.

“While Bengal, Odisha and Assam have already started using Ol Chiki script in schools, colleges and universities, it is yet to be adopted in Jharkhand. Here people have been using either Roman or Devnagri script for writing Santhali due to ease of convenience. Slowly, the situation is changing in some areas like Godda and Jamtara. Therefore, putting up boards with names of schools, railway stations and government offices in Ol Chiki script will help the cause of Santhali language,” he said.