Published: 16 February 2026PIB / President of India / Manorama YearbookScience & Technology
President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Centenary Celebrations of Ol Chiki Script; Constitution Translated into Santhali
On February 16, 2026, President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Centenary Celebration of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Culture. The event marks 100 years since Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script in 1925 to provide the Santhali language — one of India's most widely spoken tribal languages — with its own indigenous writing system.
Before Ol Chiki's creation, Santhali was written in Roman, Devanagari, Odia, and Bengali scripts, none of which could accurately represent the phonetic nuances of the language. Ol Chiki consists of 30 letters, each directly mapping to a distinct Santhali phoneme, making it a scientifically precise script. The Santhali language and Ol Chiki script were accorded constitutional recognition when Santhali was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003.
At the event, President Murmu released a commemorative coin and postage stamp marking the centenary. A landmark achievement was unveiled: the Constitution of India had been officially translated into Santhali using the Ol Chiki script and released in December 2025 — the first time India's foundational legal text became available in Santhali in its native script. President Murmu described Ol Chiki as a 'powerful symbol of Santhali identity' and a unifying cultural force for the Santhal community spread across Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam.
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Q: Discuss the cultural and constitutional significance of the Ol Chiki script centenary celebrations and the translation of India's Constitution into Santhali for tribal identity and linguistic rights.
Answer (50 words):
On February 16, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Centenary Celebration of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi. Invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu for Santhali, Ol Chiki has 30 letters mapping Santhali phonemes. Santhali entered the Eighth Schedule in 2003; the Constitution translated into Santhali was released December 2025.
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Linked questionMedium
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebrations of which institution at Namkum, Ranchi?
Explanation · Correct answer DPresident Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the centenary celebrations of ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture at Namkum, Ranchi. Therefore, option D is the specific institution referred to in the event.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the Ol Chiki script and when was it created?
Ol Chiki script was invented by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925. He is revered as 'Guru Gomke' (Great Teacher) among the Santhali people. The 30-letter script was specifically designed to phonetically represent the sounds of the Santhali language, which had previously been written using borrowed scripts like Devanagari, Bengali, or Roman.
What was the occasion of the Ol Chiki centenary celebration in 2026 and who presided over it?
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary (100th anniversary) celebrations of Ol Chiki script on February 16, 2026, in New Delhi. The event marked 100 years since Pandit Raghunath Murmu created the script in 1925. President Murmu, herself of Santali origin, presided over this historic milestone for India's Adivasi community.
How did Santhali get included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India?
Santhali was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003 through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act. The Eighth Schedule lists India's officially recognised scheduled languages; before 2003, it had 18 languages, and the amendment brought the total to 22 by adding Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali.
What is the significance of the Constitution of India being translated into Santhali in December 2025?
The official translation of the Constitution of India into Santhali in Ol Chiki script in December 2025 is a landmark linguistic and constitutional milestone. It means India's supreme legal document is now accessible in the native script of the Santhali-speaking community, reinforcing the constitutional commitment to linguistic diversity and tribal rights.
Which states have a significant Santhali-speaking population in India?
The Santhali-speaking community is primarily concentrated in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam. Official PIB material describes Santhali as one of India's prominent tribal languages, and it is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
