News: Ol Chiki script is in the news due to its centenary celebrations, including commemorative initiatives and growing institutional recognition of its legacy.
About Ol Chiki Script
- Ol Chiki is the official script of the Santhali language, a prominent tribal language with strong oral traditions.
- Developed by: It was developed in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu to provide a scientific and dedicated writing system for Santhali.
- National Recognition
- The Constitution of India was officially translated into Santhali using the Ol Chiki script and released in December 2025.
- The Government of India issued a ₹100 commemorative coin and a postage stamp to mark 100 years of the script.
- Key linguistic features include
- It is designed exclusively for the Santhali language.
- It has 30 letters representing vowels and consonants.
- Each symbol corresponds directly to a specific sound.
- It accurately captures glottal stops and unique phonetic elements.
- Significance: It strengthened linguistic identity, enabled formal education and governance use, and affirmed the cultural heritage and intellectual traditions of the Santhal community.
