The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, organised a symposium to commemorate 100 years of the Olchiki script, a significant milestone in the cultural and literary history of the Santhali community. The event was held in collaboration with the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) and the Fagun Foundation at the CCRT Complex, Dwarka, New Delhi on 15 February 2026.
The symposium featured seminars and discussions focusing on the conception of the Olchiki script by Guru Gomkey Pandit Raghunath Murmu and its evolution and preservation over the decades. Scholars and practitioners deliberated on the distinctive features of the script, measures to encourage its adoption among younger generations, and strategies for integrating the script into contemporary digital and technological platforms to enhance accessibility and relevance.
The commemorative event commenced with the rendition of Vande Mataram and the offering of floral tribute at the portrait of Guru Gomkey Pandit Raghunath Murmu by all the dignitaries, followed by a welcome song in Santhali by a choir. The morning session featured a welcome speech by the founder of the Fagun Foundation, Shri Mangat Murmu, and a commemoration speech by the Chairman, CCRT, Dr. Vinod Narayan Indurkar.
The pre-lunch session saw several enriching sessions on the subject: Invention and Evolution of Olchiki Script by Ms. Yashoda Murmu, an Eminent Santhali Writer; Inclusion of Olchiki in Unicode by Professor (Retired) Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Hansdah; Use of Wikipedia in Olchiki Script by Branch Manager of SBI, Jashipur, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, Admin of Santali Wikipedia (INDIA), and Founder of Mission Olchiki, Shri R. Aswini Banjan Murmu; Digitaisation of Olchiki script by Associate Professor, Santali Department, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, Prof. Ganesh Murmu; Progress of Olchiki script by Assistant Professor of Santali Dept. Sidu Kanhu Birsa University, Purulia, Dr Sripati Tudu; and Invention & Development of Olchiki script, Shri Aditya Kumar Mandi, West Bengal.
During the post-lunch session, achievers contributing to the promotion of the Olchiki script were felicitated. Cultural performances reflecting the rich traditions of the Santhali community were also organised. The symposium witnessed enthusiastic participation from scholars, students and members of the community.
The event reaffirmed the collective commitment towards preserving and promoting indigenous scripts and highlighted the Ministry of Culture’s continued efforts to safeguard linguistic diversity as an integral component of India’s cultural heritage.
