West Bengal Declares Public Holiday to Honour Santali Script Inventor
On Monday, Kolkata, May 12 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid heartfelt tributes to Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the revered Santali writer and educator, on his birth anniversary.
Recognising his invaluable contribution to the Santali community, Banerjee announced that the state government has declared a public holiday on Murmu’s birth anniversary. “My heartfelt tributes to Pandit Raghunath Murmu, the renowned linguist and inventor of the 'Alchiki' script, on his birth anniversary,” Banerjee wrote in a post on X.
Pandit Raghunath Murmu is celebrated for creating the 'Alchiki' script, a major linguistic milestone that gave the Santali language its own written form. Before the 19th century, Santali knowledge and tradition were preserved and passed down orally without a formal script.
Banerjee further highlighted her government’s initiatives to honour Murmu’s legacy. “It is our pride that in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to my Santal brothers and sisters, our government has declared a public holiday on his birthday. This pioneering step is now being followed elsewhere. We have even named a college after him,” she stated.
Concluding her message, the Chief Minister added, “I once again offer my respectful obeisances to him.”
Murmu’s work inspires linguistic and cultural preservation efforts across India, especially among the indigenous Santali-speaking communities.
