President Droupadi Murmu today released the Constitution in the Santhali language at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is a matter of pride and joy for all the Santhali people that the Constitution is now available in the Santhali language, written in the Ol Chiki script. She said it will make them able to read and understand the Constitution in their own language. 

 

 

The President said the centenary of the Ol Chiki script is being celebrated this year. She appreciated the Union Minister of Law and Justice and his team for bringing the Constitution in Ol Chiki script in its centenary year. 

 

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President thanked President Droupadi Murmu for the initiative, under whose guidance it was undertaken. He said that this great initiative will enable Santhali-speaking people to read and understand the Constitution in their own language. The Vice President recalled that during President Murmu’s tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, she had initiated several measures for tribal welfare and actively promoted tribal culture and languages. 

 

Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal was also present on the occasion. 

 

The Santhali language, which was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution through the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003, is one of the most ancient living languages of India. It is spoken by a significant number of tribal people in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar.