In a historic move for India's linguistic and tribal inclusion, President Droupadi Murmu has officially released the Constitution of India translated into the Santhali language, written in the indigenous Ol Chiki script. This landmark event, which took place on December 27, 2025, fulfills a decades-long demand and offers over seven million Santhali people direct access to the foundational document of their rights.
Echoes from the Constituent Assembly
The release carries profound historical significance, echoing the debates of India's founding era. During the Constituent Assembly deliberations, one of the few Adivasi members, Jaipal Singh Munda, made a powerful stand. He spoke in Mundari and passionately advocated for the recognition of tribal languages and identities within the new nation's framework.
This act was a bold assertion in a hall where language hierarchy was a subject of intense discussion. The translation of the Constitution into Santhali is seen as a direct answer to Munda's call, making the document accessible to the community for whom he fought.
A Journey of Recognition and Persistence
The path to this moment has been long. Despite being the third-largest tribal group in India with a population exceeding 7 million, the Santhali language was only included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003. This inclusion was itself a result of persistent advocacy.
Notably, it was on the insistence of Droupadi Murmu, who as a minister in Odisha requested then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to grant official status to Santhali, that the language finally received its due recognition. The release of the Constitution coincides with the centenary of the Ol Chiki script, invented by Raghunath Murmu in 1925, adding a layer of cultural celebration to the political act.
Beyond Symbolism: A Promise of Inclusive Access
This event is far from merely symbolic. It underlines a tangible promise of a more inclusive India, where communities can read, understand, defend, and celebrate their constitutional rights in their mother tongue. The vision extends beyond Santhali.
It imagines a future where a person from the Ho community reads the Preamble in Varang Kshiti script, a Mundari woman finds the promises of gender equality written in Nag Mundari, and an Oraon scholar defends her doctoral thesis in Kurukh. It represents the unselfconscious resolution of a complex socio-cultural debate in a diverse democracy, ensuring that language is a bridge to rights, not a barrier.
The release of the Santhali Constitution is a powerful step towards decolonizing access to justice and empowerment, ensuring that the ideals fought for by leaders like Jaipal Singh Munda are truly within reach of all citizens.
