Rairangpur: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today announced that the residence of Guru Gomke Pandit Raghunath Murmu in the Danda Bose area in Mayurbhanj district will be transformed into a memorial pilgrimage site.
The Chief Minister also announced a special package of Rs 50 crore to set up cultural institutions dedicated to Santhal tribe, development of Ol Chiki language and preserve memorials related to Pandit Murmu. Additionally, Pandit Murmu’s Samadhi Peeth will be developed into a historical memorial.
The CM has made these announcements at the centenary celebration of the invention of the Ol Chiki script for the Santali language and the 120th birth anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, held at Mahuldiha in Mayurbhanj district.
Pandit Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script in 1925, which consists of 30 letters and is used to write and promote Santali literature and culture.
He further declared that the 100th anniversary of the Ol Chiki script would be commemorated statewide for an entire year. An international seminar will also be organized to promote the Santali language.
Highlighting Pandit Murmu’s legacy, the Chief Minister said, “Pandit Murmu’s life was not just that of an individual—he was a movement, a consciousness, a craft, and a culture of knowledge.”
He emphasized that the celebration of the Ol Chiki script’s centenary is not only a tribute to an inventor’s creative genius but also an open campaign to preserve the language, culture, and identity of the Santali community.
“His invention was not merely a change in vocabulary, but a new chapter in the evolution of culture,” Shri Majhi stated.
He reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to supporting the Ol Chiki script and the Santali language. “We are advancing this legacy by establishing Santali language institutions in primary education, producing textbooks, training teachers, and creating language development centers,” he said.
Shri Majhi said Pandit Murmu was not only a promoter of knowledge and education, but also a personality who revealed the inner values of this land. “Our Government has organised various programmes in the name of Pandit Raghunath Murmu,” he said.
He also noted that a medical college has been opened in Pandit Murmu’s name and that the government is committed to establishing additional research centers and educational institutions to honor his legacy.
“To fulfill his dream, we will further strengthen efforts to preserve and promote the Santali language, literature, and culture,” he declared.
The Chief Minister also felicitated Santhali language researcher Chunda Soren with the Guru Gomke International Award carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said, “Guru Gomke was like a flower whose fragrance continues to linger even after it has withered.”