24/12/2025
⭐⭐🧾🎉🧾🎉🎉👏🎉🎉👏🎆.
Demands for Ol Chiki Second language in Odisha.*
In Odisha, Ol Chiki is not just a script; it is a symbol of cultural identity for the Santali-speaking community. While Odia is the official first language of the state, Santali (written in Ol Chiki) has gained significant status in education and administration, particularly in tribal-dominated regions like Mayurbhanj.
Here are the key details about the status of Ol Chiki in Odisha:
1. Educational Status (KG to PG)
The Odisha government has recently made major strides to integrate Santali into the formal education system:
* Mission Ol Chiki 2025: The government has launched this mission to ensure that by 2025 (the centenary year of the script's invention), education in the Santali language is available from Kindergarten (KG) to Post-Graduation (PG).
* Medium of Instruction: Santali is already used as a medium of instruction at the primary level in many schools in Santal-populated areas. Textbooks are printed in the Ol Chiki script to help children learn in their mother tongue.
* Teacher Training: The state is actively training teachers specifically to teach in the Ol Chiki script to bridge the linguistic gap in tribal education.
2. Official Recognition
* 8th Schedule: Santali was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 2003. This gave it the status of an official language of India, allowing it to be used for official purposes and in competitive exams like the UPSC.
* Official Script: While Santali was historically written in Odia, Bengali, or Roman scripts, the Odisha government officially recognizes Ol Chiki as the standard script for the language.
3. Historical Significance
* The Creator: The script was invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu (also known as Guru Gomke), who was born in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
* Centenary Package: To celebrate 100 years of the script (1925–2025), Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently announced a ₹50 crore package to promote Santali culture. This includes:
* Building an Ol Chiki Library in Baripada.
* Developing Pandit Raghunath Murmu’s residence into a heritage site.
* Creating an open-air theatre and museum dedicated to the script’s history.
4. Why it is called a "Second Language"?
In many schools in North Odisha (especially Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Balasore), students have the option to choose Santali as a Modern Indian Language (MIL) or a second/third language subject. This allows students to gain formal academic credit for their mother tongue alongside Odia and English.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
| Creator | Pandit Raghunath Murmu (1925) |
| Primary Region | Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore |
| Current Goal | "Mission Ol Chiki 2025" (KG to PG education) |
| National Status | Included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution |
