Category Archives: Santali language and literature

“Santali is not a dead language in the first place so it does not need to be ‘revived’! […] Santali (Santhali) is one of the two tribal languages that have been recognized as official languages.” – Santali poet, scholar and translator Ivy Imogene Hansdak (Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi, 13 January 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=21604

“For decades, the Ol-chiki alphabet, which was invented [by Raghunath Murmu in 1925] to represent the Santali language, was largely irrelevant. That changed in the late 1970s. […] In 2004, Santali became one of India’s 22 official languages. […] As more teachers are trained to teach in Santali and more textbooks with Ol-chiki writing appear, educational results will improve. Moreover, there is scope for publishing the same Santali text in more than one script.” –  Boro Baski in “The pros and cons of Ol-chiki” (D+C Development and Cooperation, e-Paper April 2021)
https://www.dandc.eu/sites/default/files/pdf_files/dc_2021-04.pdf
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=21581

“Mostly, these tribals have been portrayed as the objects of analysis, hunger-stricken and uncivilized. Consequently, the socio-political mainstream that is unaccustomed to accept them as civilized human beings, tries to subjugate them. They agree to accept them as their ally only at the cost of their betrayal to their identity. The available literature of Santhals is the demonstration of the voices of the people struggling to liberate themselves from the clutches of varied suppressions that problematize the very essence of their identity. Taking characters from every stratum, Santhali writers are enriching Tribal literature and foregrounding the unmapped realm of Santhal community.” – Abstract by Teresa Tudu (“Tribes In Transition” conference 2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=25135

“Santali language and the music are the two important life lines for the existence of the Santal tribe in the modern world, and it has helped me to reconnect with the socio-cultural life of my village and retain my Santal mentality.” – Boro Baski in “Gai Gupi Kada Gupi: The story behind the song” (April 2021)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SyRGJHepbc 
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=42269

Video | Marriage customs of the Santals: A large mural created by village artists to express their cultural identity – West Bengal

Posted on 25/09/2022 by website administrator

Marriage Reception A Santal marriage takes five days and involves various, often complex, rituals. On the day of the Gidi-chumara (Marriage Reception) the women arrive to bless the bride and groom with grass and grains of rice which are kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Adivasi / Adibasi, Community facilities, Crafts and visual arts, Cultural heritage, Customs, Eastern region – Eastern Zonal Council, Education and literacy, Literature and bibliographies, Museum collections - India, Music and dance, Names and communities, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Santal Parganas, Santali language and literature, Seasons and festivals, Storytelling, Tagore and rural culture, Tourism, Trees, Video resources - external, Women | Tagged | Comments Off on Video | Marriage customs of the Santals: A large mural created by village artists to express their cultural identity – West Bengal

Survey of the living languages of India in present time (PLSI) – carried out by persons who belong to the respective speech communities or have worked closely with them

Posted on 09/09/2022 by website administrator

The People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) is a comprehensive survey of the living languages of India in present time. The first such survey since George Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India carried out between 1894 and 1928, the PLSI is being carried out … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Eastern region – Eastern Zonal Council, Education and literacy, Endangered language, Ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, Figures, census and other statistics, Film, Government of India, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Literature - fiction, Networking, Organizations, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Performing arts, Poetry, Press snippets, Quotes, Regions of India – Tribal heritage & indigenous knowledge, Revival of traditions, Santali language and literature, Tribal culture worldwide, Tribal identity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Survey of the living languages of India in present time (PLSI) – carried out by persons who belong to the respective speech communities or have worked closely with them

“A Class Apart”: Adivaani’s 10-year anniversary

Posted on 21/08/2022 by website administrator

Read the whole success story and the challenges met by Adivaani’s founder, Ruby Hembrom >> This year marks the 10-year anniversary of adivaani. Over the last decade, the publishing house, whose name means “first voices,” has published 19 books in … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Languages and linguistic heritage, Literature - fiction, Literature and bibliographies, Organizations, Santali language and literature, Success story, Tribal identity, Women | Tagged | Comments Off on “A Class Apart”: Adivaani’s 10-year anniversary

ePaper | Writing and teaching Santali in different alphabets: A success story calling for a stronger sense of self-confidence – West Bengal

Posted on 01/03/2022 by website administrator

Santali is one of India’s many Adivasi languages. Today, seven different alphabets are used to write in it. Some argue that this great variety does not help the community’s development. | Read the full article by Boro Baski (3,3 MB) … Continue reading →

Posted in Assimilation, Childhood, Commentary, Community facilities, Eastern region – Eastern Zonal Council, eBook eJournal ePaper, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Film, Games and leisure time, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Misconceptions, Modernity, Multi-lingual education, Museum collections - India, Music and dance, Names and communities, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Press snippets, Revival of traditions, Santali language and literature, Seasons and festivals, Storytelling, Success story, Tagore and rural culture, Women, Worship and rituals | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ePaper | Writing and teaching Santali in different alphabets: A success story calling for a stronger sense of self-confidence – West Bengal

Traditional music instruments of the Santals at the Museum of Santal Culture – West Bengal

Posted on 20/07/2021 by website administrator

Tirio bamboo flute * Dhodro banam bowed instrument * Madol or tumdak double-sided barrel drum * Photos: Boro Baski, Museum of Santal Culture; photo credit: Ludwig Pesch © 2012 Information on these and other music instruments provided by the Wesanthals E-Group * … Continue reading →

Posted in Eastern region – Eastern Zonal Council, Museum collections - India, Music and dance, Names and communities, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Resources, Santali language and literature, Websites by tribal communities | Tagged | Comments Off on Traditional music instruments of the Santals at the Museum of Santal Culture – West Bengal