Assam Introduces Santali Language Education Using Ol Chiki Script in Historic Preservation Initiative

The Assam government has taken a significant step in linguistic and cultural preservation by officially introducing Santali as a medium of instruction in schools, utilizing the Ol Chiki script. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu formally inaugurated this initiative at Tilkai Majhi Primary School in Udalguri, where students received textbooks written in Ol Chiki.

This program enables children from Santali-speaking communities to learn in their mother tongue, addressing both educational access and cultural preservation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized the government's commitment to protecting indigenous languages and cultures, noting that the textbooks will help preserve Santali for future generations.

The initiative emerged from a 2023 Assam Cabinet decision focused on strengthening the cultural identity of Santali-speaking populations. The Ol Chiki script, developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925, holds profound cultural significance for the Santal people. Its integration into Assam's education system is expected to enhance literacy rates and empower Santali speakers to read and write in their native language.