President Murmu calls upon Santhali writers to pen books to create interests among new generation

By B.Maharana

Baripada (Odisha), November  20

President Droupadi Murmu Monday called upon Santhali writers to pen down books that will create interests among new generation children on Santhali language.

Speaking in Santhali while inaugurating the 36th annual conference and literary festival of All India Santhali Writers’ Association at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha , the President said Santhali speaking people should first love their language and work for popularising it.

She praised the writers of Santhali language for striving hard to upkeep the rich history and tradition of Santhali people and their language.

Santhali language is a Munda language spoken primarily in the east-central Indian states of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. There are more than seven million Santhali speakers of Santhali in Indian and neighboring Bangladesh and Nepal. Santhali includes a northern and southern dialect. It is the major member of a subgroup of the Kherwarian branch of North Munda. Kherwarian also includes Mundari and Ho, each with about one million speakers.

Santhali is an official scheduled language of India.

The President, who hails from Mayurbhanj district, is on a three-day tour to Odisha and is scheduled to attend various programmes in Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur districts. She also  inaugurated an Eklavya Model Residential School at Kuliana in Mayurbhanj district .