Ol Chiki Script

Invention: Ol Chiki was created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925 to provide a dedicated script for the Santhali language.
First Book: High Serena (1936) – the inaugural publication in Ol Chiki.
Alphabet: Consists of 30 phonetic letters, each representing a distinct sound, including glottal stops.
Geographic Reach: Used by Santhali speakers in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam.
Centenary Celebration: Inaugurated by the President of India on 17 Feb 2026; commemorative coin and postage stamp released.
Constitutional Status: Santhali (written in Ol Chiki) added to the Eighth Schedule via the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
Recent Milestone: December 2025 – the Constitution of India translated into Ol Chiki, marking a landmark in linguistic accessibility.

Santhali, an Austro‑Asiatic language, previously relied on Roman, Devanagari, Oriya, and Bengali scripts, leading to inconsistencies in representation.
The creation of a native script was a cultural assertion, fostering identity and literacy among the Santhal tribe, one of India’s largest tribal communities (~7.5 million).
The Ministry of Culture organized the centenary event, reflecting the government's emphasis on cultural preservation.

Linguistic Justice: Translating the Constitution into Ol Chiki ensures that tribal citizens can access foundational legal texts in their mother tongue, aligning with the right to education and participatory democracy.
Cultural Preservation: Official recognition and celebration reinforce the pluralistic ethos of India, supporting the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Policy Implications: Highlights the need for language planning, script development, and educational material creation for other tribal languages.

Eighth Schedule (Article 351) – lists officially recognized languages; Santhali’s inclusion (2003) provides governmental support, eligibility for central schemes, and educational resources.
92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 – formally added Santhali (Ol Chiki) to the schedule.
Article 30(1) – Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions; the script’s official status aids Santhal institutions in using Ol Chiki.

Phonetic Design: One‑to‑one correspondence between symbol and sound; includes 30 consonants and vowel diacritics.
Unique Features: Explicit representation of glottal stops and vowel length, crucial for accurate Santhali phonology.

Centenary Commemoration (2026): Coin and stamp issuance raise public awareness.
Constitution Translation (2025): First Indian language translation using a non‑Indo‑Aryan script, setting a precedent for future translations.

For UPSC preparation: Focus on the script’s role in cultural identity, constitutional recognition, and policy measures for tribal languages.