Darjeeling (WB), March 7 President Droupadi Murmu said on Saturday that the contributions of the Santal community to the country's freedom struggle have not received due recognition, and asserted that the names of several legendary figures from the community were "deliberately excluded from history."
After inaugurating the ninth International Santal Conference in Bidhannagar, Siliguri, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, she emphasized the need for education for Santal children.
"I know how much the Santal community has contributed to the country's freedom struggle. But the names of Santal legends have not deliberately been included in history," she said.
The President urged the community to ensure that the younger generation receives proper education.
"I want all children of the Santal community to receive a good education, and this would help them become independent and stronger," Murmu said.
The President also said that the community should learn other languages in addition to Ol Chiki to expand their opportunities.
In 1925, Pandit Raghunath Murmu invented the Ol Chiki script. Since then, it has been used for the Santali language. Now, this script is a powerful symbol of Santal identity worldwide. It is also an effective means of fostering unity among the Santal community.
The President also questioned whether recipients of awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri were doing enough to uphold the prestige of these awards and contribute to society.