Raghunath Murmu

Raghunath Murmu, born on May eighteenth, nineteen oh five, was a distinguished Indian writer and educator whose contributions significantly shaped the Santali language and culture. As a school teacher, playwright, poet, and linguist, he dedicated his life to the advancement of his community's literary heritage.

Before the nineteenth century, the Santali people relied solely on oral traditions to pass down their knowledge. The absence of a written language posed challenges for the preservation of their rich cultural narratives. While European researchers and Christian missionaries attempted to document the Santali language using Bengali, Odia, and Roman scripts, the Santali community yearned for their own unique script.

In response to this need, Raghunath Murmu developed the Ol Chiki script, a groundbreaking achievement that provided the Santali people with a means to express their language in written form. This innovation not only empowered the community but also allowed for the creation of numerous songs, plays, and school textbooks, all written in the Ol Chiki script.