Santhali

About The Department

India has always been home to a wide sect of languages and cultures. Tribal language and culture is one of the most notable among them.According to anthropologists, there are more than 461 types of Tribal folks in India- the Santhali tribe being the the most noteworthy of all.The total Santhal population in the world right now is almost 7.4 million. They have their own distinguished society, religion and rituals, culture and language. They speak in the Santhali tongue which belongs to the AustroAsiatic family of languages.

On 22nd december, 2003 the Santhali language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constituition. States like Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisa have already started teaching Santhali language as a subject in schools, colleges and universities. West bengal is ahead of every state in respect of the number of instituitions that teaches Santhali language.

Netaji Mahavidyalaya, under Burdwan university was established in the year 1946 by Dr. Radhakrishna Pal. The Department of Santhali was founded on 1st August, 2008 and was inaugurated by Sri Vinod Das.

The General course In Santali was started in the year 2008. The Honours course in Santali was started from the year 2009. Between the years 2008 and 2024, approximately seven hundred students, from both pass and honours streams have successfully completed their degree courses in Santhali language from this very college. Total number of sanctioned teaching posts of the department is one. At present, there is one Full-Time Teacher: Prof. Jahangir Kabir Mondal and Four State Aided College Teachers (SACT) in Santhali: Mr. Kunjo
Das Murmu, Mr. Sahebram Saren, Mr. Swarup Chand Murmu and Mr. Biren Mandi. All techer’s are tirelessly working to provide quality education to students.

The department has a well-equipped Library. The students can borrow books from this departmental Library by depositing the Library cards. The Library is open on ordinary working days. Books may be borrowed or returned from Monday to Friday. Students publish a wall magazine named ‘AYUR’ in which they get the opportunity of expressing their original thoughts and feelings in terms of creative writing.

Objective

The main objectives of this department are:

• To save Santhali language from obliteration.
• To educate young minds about the Santhali culture and literature.
• To delve deep into the history of Santhali language.
• To strengthen the roots of Santhali tradition through literature.
• To make students familiar with the unique structure of Santhali Grammar.
• To study and comprehend the sui generis of Santhali literature.
• To acquire knowledge of the syncretism/ amalgamation/merging of the Santhali language and Santhali culture.

Faculty Details