The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in association with Fagun Foundation, organised the inaugural ceremony of the year-long commemoration marking the centenary of the Olchiki script on 16 February at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The ceremony was graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu. Hon’ble Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram, and Secretary, Ministry of Culture Shri Vivek Aggarwal were also present on the occasion. Other dignitaries included Ms Surukuni Murmu, Assistant Professor and Sub-Editor of the monthly magazine Fagun, and Shri Napole Raghu Murmu, grandson of Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
The commemoration commenced with the rendition of the national song and the national anthem by the President’s Band, followed by a welcome traditional song by a Santhali choir and a welcome address by Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
Addressing the gathering, Hon'ble President said that the centenary celebrations of the Olchiki script should be an occasion to resolve for promoting this script. While children can get education in Hindi, English, Odia and Bengali, or any other language, they should also learn their mother tongue, Santhali, in the Olchiki script.
During the inaugural ceremony, the Hon'ble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, launched a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honour of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, reverently referred to as Guru Gomke. A vibrant traditional dance performance gave the audience a rich flavour of Santhali culture. During this occasion, a short film on the development of the Olchiki script was screened, highlighting its cultural and linguistic significance.
A souvenir designed by the Ministry of Culture was also released, with the first copy presented to the Hon’ble President by the Hon’ble Minister of Culture & Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. In his address, he appreciated the work of Pandit Raghunath Murmu in creating the Santhali Olchiki script. Shri Shekhawat stressed upon the importance of a language-specific script, saying language is a medium for expressing emotions, and script is a medium to transmit them to the next generation by quoting and writing them down.
A special exhibition, showcasing the historical journey of the Olchiki script and its enduring contribution to the expression of the Santhali language and culture, was organised at the venue. The Hon’ble President honoured ten people for their consistent effort and contribution to the development of the Olchiki script during the commemoration.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, reflected upon the exceptional work done by Shri Raghunath Murmu to create a Santhali script in 1925 and informed that many such dialects and languages are still being worked on in India. He emphasised the fact to protect one’s own culture and mother language and urged all to keep one’s own language alive through keeping it in practice and contributing to preparing a script.
Secretary, Culture Shri Vivek Aggarwal, in his welcome address, paid respect to Pandit Raghunath Murmu for his literary and cultural contribution to the country and the Santhali community in particular that established a base for unity and self-respect. He explained the science and pattern behind the formation of the Olchiki script as conceptualised by Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
A dedicated commemorative event by the Ministry of Culture to commemorate the centenary year of the Olchiki script and pay respect to the creator, Pandit Raghunath Murmu, reaffirms the Government of India’s continued efforts to mainstream indigenous knowledge systems and strengthen India’s rich cultural fabric through inclusive cultural initiatives.
