Tata Steel Foundation was conferred the Ol Chiki Centenary Award at the national commemoration marking 100 years of the Ol Chiki script, in recognition of its sustained work in preserving and promoting the Santali language across eastern and northeastern India.
The award was presented by Droupadi Murmu during a special ceremony held as part of the 22nd Santali “Parsi Maha”, organised under the aegis of the All India Santali Writers’ Association. The event brought together leading writers, educators, community leaders and institutions associated with the Santali linguistic movement.
Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Hemant Soren were also present at the function, which was attended by senior representatives of the Foundation, including Director D B Sundara Ramam and Chief Executive Officer Sourav Roy.
The Ol Chiki Centenary Award recognises Tata Steel Foundation’s long-term contribution to the development of Ol Chiki education while honouring the legacy of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, who devised the script as a foundation for Santali literature and cultural expression. The President also honoured 12 individuals for their contributions to the language, while the Foundation facilitated recognition of over 60 community contributors following the main ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO Sourav Roy said the award reflected the collective effort of field teams and the Santhal community, whose everyday use of the language has kept Ol Chiki alive. He said the recognition strengthened the Foundation’s commitment to intergenerational transmission of tribal languages and indigenous knowledge systems.
Tata Steel Foundation’s structured engagement with Ol Chiki education began in 2011 and has steadily expanded through partnerships with local organisations. Community mobilisation is carried out through Gram Sabhas and School Management Committees, ensuring local ownership. At present, the initiative operates through 966 learning centres across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, reaching over 45,000 learners, including more than 20,000 Santali learners through the Ol Chiki script.
The recognition highlights the Foundation’s sustained work in difficult field conditions and its continued collaboration with tribal communities to protect linguistic heritage and cultural identity.
