President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the Indian Constitution in the Santhali language at Rashtrapati Bhavan, aiming to empower tribal communities by providing the statute in their native tongue. This move is a significant step towards enabling the Santhali people to understand the Constitution in their own language, written in the Ol Chiki script.
Celebrating the centenary of the Ol Chiki script, the President commended the efforts of the Union Minister of Law and Justice and his team for making the Constitution available in the Santhali language. Notable figures present at the event included Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
The Santhali language, recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution since the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003, is a historic language spoken by tribal communities in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar. The introduction of the Constitution in the Santhali language is expected to enhance the tribal people’s understanding of their rights and duties.
President Murmu expressed her delight in releasing the Constitution in the Santali language, emphasizing the importance of making the document accessible to the entire Santali community. This initiative is seen as a positive step towards promoting inclusivity and empowering indigenous communities through language.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan praised President Murmu’s leadership in this endeavor, highlighting the significance of enabling Santhali-speaking individuals to engage with the Constitution in their mother tongue. He emphasized the role of language diversity in fostering national unity and development, acknowledging the President’s past contributions to tribal welfare and cultural preservation.
