Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly campus became a site of solemn remembrance today as the state honored the death anniversary of the legendary Santhali poet and linguist, Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
Leading the state in paying floral tributes, Speaker Smt. Surama Padhi, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Dr.Bijaya Ketan Upadhyay, Secretary Odia Language, Literature and Culture and others gathered at the visionary’s statue to acknowledge his monumental legacy.
Pandit Raghunath Murmu remains a towering figure in Indian history, primarily recognized as the father of the Ol Chiki script. Before his intervention, the Santhali language was often documented using Roman, Odia, or Bengali scripts, which struggled to capture the unique phonetic nuances of the language.
In 1925, Pandit Murmu revolutionized the cultural landscape by creating Ol Chiki, providing a distinct identity and a written soul to the Santhali people. His contribution went beyond mere linguistics; it was an act of cultural reclamation that empowered millions to preserve their oral traditions, folklore, and indigenous wisdom in a written form.
The Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture is currently spearheading a broader initiative to celebrate the eminent sons of the soil who have shaped the state’s diverse heritage.
Under the leadership of Secretary Dr. Bijaya Ketan Upadhyaya, the department is intensifying efforts to organize high-profile ceremonies that bring the stories of these icons to the younger generation.
Dr. Upadhyaya has been instrumental in scaling up these cultural activities, ensuring that the contributions of figures like Pandit Murmu are not just remembered but integrated into the contemporary cultural discourse.
This ceremony serves as a reminder of Odisha’s commitment to linguistic diversity and the preservation of tribal heritage. By honoring the “Guru Gomke” (The Great Teacher), the state acknowledges that the progress of Odisha is inextricably linked to the strength and recognition of its indigenous cultures.