Always remember the mother tongue: President Murmu appealed at the centenary celebration of Ol Chiki script.

Jamshedpur, 29 December. President Draupadi Murmu on Monday urged people to never forget their mother tongues and called for collective efforts for the betterment of the society. She was addressing the centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script of Santhali language and the 22nd Santhali ‘Parsi Maha’ (Language Day) at Dishom Jaherthan premises in Karnadih on the outskirts of Jamshedpur city in East Singhbhum district.

The President began his speech by singing a prayer song in Santhali language in praise of ‘Jaher Ayo’ (tribal mother goddess). Giving a speech in Santhali language, Murmu said, “There is no harm in learning all kinds of languages, but never forget your mother tongue. When you talk to your people, always try to speak in their mother tongue.

He said that Ol Chiki is now on a digital platform and should be used to promote the language. Appreciating the contribution of Tata Steel in promoting Ol Chiki, he said that collective efforts are required for the betterment of the society. He said the Central Government has released Rs 24,000 crore for the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

The President also honored 12 eminent Santhali personalities who have contributed to the development of Santhali literature. Apart from chief guest Murmu, Governor Santosh Gangwar, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Jhargram (West Bengal) and Padma Shri awardee Kalipada Soren were also present in the ceremony. The event was organized to commemorate 100 years of the Ol Chiki movement started by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925.

He also paid tribute to the father of Ol Chiki script by garlanding the statue of Pandit Raghunath Murmu. Murmu will also attend the 15th convocation of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Jamshedpur here. The President reached Jharkhand on Sunday night on a three-day visit. She will visit Gumla on Tuesday to address the ‘Interstate Jan Sanskriti Samagam Samaroh – Kartik Yatra’.