Santali literature

Santali literature (Santali: ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ ᱥᱟᱶᱦᱮᱫ) refers to the literary works written in the Santali language, primarily spoken by the Santal people of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India^[1] and is written in the indigenous script called Ol Chiki script.^[2]^[3] Santali literature is composed in two broad styles- ᱠᱟᱹᱛᱷᱱᱤ (Kạthni-prose), ᱜᱟᱹᱛᱷᱤᱱᱤ (Gạthni-poetry).

Historical development[edit]

The roots of Santali literature can be traced back to ancient times when it was primarily oral. The Santal community has a rich tradition of oral literature, including folk tales, songs, and myths, passed down through generations. The earliest known written works in Santali date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the efforts of Christian missionaries and Santal intellectuals.

Early influences[edit]

The Christian missionaries played a significant role in the development of written Santali literature. The first book written in Santali, a translation of the Bible, was published in 1895 by Lars Olsen Skrefsrud, a Norwegian missionary. Following this, several other missionaries and Santal scholars contributed to the development of Santali literature.^[4]

Literary forms[edit]

Santali literature encompasses various forms, including poetry, prose, drama, and folk literature. Traditional Santali literature includes a rich collection of folk tales, myths, and legends that have been orally transmitted through generations. These oral traditions continue to influence contemporary Santali literature.^[5]

Notable authors and works[edit]

Pandit Raghunath Murmu (1905–1981) is considered the father of modern Santali literature. He created the Ol Chiki script for writing Santali and wrote the first Santali drama. His most famous work is the "Bidu Chadan", a long narrative play.^[6]

Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar (born 1983) is a contemporary Santali writer, Shekhar has gained recognition for his works in both Santali and English. His debut novel, "The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey", won the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2015.^[7]^[8]^{[citation needed]}

Recognition and impact[edit]

Santhali was recognised by Sahitya Akademi in the year 2004,^[9]^[10] after it had been recognised by the Ninety-second Amendment of the Constitution of India in 2003.^[11]

References[edit]

^ "Distribution of the 22 Scheduled Languages". censusindia.gov.in. Census of India. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
^ "Santali language and alphabets". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
^ Hembram, Phatik Chandra (2002). Santal, a Natural Language. U. Hembram. p. 165.
^ Skrefsrud, Lars Olsen (1873). A grammar of the Santhal language. University of Michigan. Benares : Calcutta School Book and Vernacular Literature Society.
^ Choksi, Nishaant (2017-12-18). "Script as constellation among Munda speakers: the case of Santali". South Asian History and Culture. 9 (1): 92–115. doi:10.1080/19472498.2017.1411064. ISSN 1947-2498.
^ "Guru Gomke Raghunath Murmu". Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
^ Sahitya Akademi. "List of Yuva Puraskar winners (2011-2017)". Sahitya Akademi. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
^ "The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey". International Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
^ "What a teacher's Sahitya Akademi award for Santali poetry means for students at an Adivasi school in West Bengal". The Indian Express. 2022-11-13. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
^ "Santali National Literature Award : Santali Sahitya Akademi". Home | EDISOM. 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
^ "Texts of the Constitution Amendment Acts" (PDF). Lok Sabha Secretariat. pp. 672–673. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.