President Murmu Lauds Santhali Writers at Baripada Festival

36th Annual Conference of All India Santali Writers’ Association Commended by President

President Droupadi Murmu praises the growth and impact of Santali literature and language at the 36th Annual Conference of the All India Santali Writers’ Association in Odisha.

DESK – President Droupadi Murmu celebrated the contributions of Santali writers and researchers at the 36th Annual Conference and Literary Festival of the All India Santali Writers’ Association in Baripada, Odisha.

She underscored the increased use of the Santali language in various sectors following its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003, a milestone achieved during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.

Murmu paid tribute to Pandit Raghunath Murmu for inventing the Ol Chiki script and enriching Santhali literature with significant plays.

She also acknowledged the achievements of Damayanti Besra and Kali Pada Saren, who were honored with Padma Shri awards for their contributions to education and literature.

The President emphasized the role of authors as societal watchdogs, highlighting their influence during India’s freedom struggle and urging them to continue raising awareness in society, especially among tribal communities.

She reflected on literature as a reflection of a community’s culture, noting the tribal lifestyle’s harmonious coexistence with nature and its relevance in the context of climate change.

Murmu advocated for the translation of Santali literature into other languages and vice versa, to foster a richer, more interconnected literary landscape in India.

She stressed the importance of engaging children in self-study from an early age, highlighting the need for appealing and understandable literature for young readers in Santhali and other Indian languages.