New Delhi- President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday released the Constitution of India translated into the Santhali language, expressing confidence that the initiative will help tribal communities better read, understand, and connect with the country’s supreme law in their own mother tongue.
The release took place at a special function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the President said the availability of the Constitution in Santhali, written in the Ol Chiki script, is a moment of pride and happiness for the entire Santhali community.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu noted that the occasion holds added significance as the country is celebrating the centenary year of the Ol Chiki script. She lauded the Union Minister of Law and Justice and his team for completing the translation and publication of the Constitution in Ol Chiki during this milestone year.
Among those present at the event were Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
The President highlighted that Santhali, one of India’s oldest living languages, was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution through the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003. She noted that the language is widely spoken by tribal communities across Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar.
She said the Santhali version of the Constitution will empower tribal citizens by enabling them to read and comprehend constitutional provisions in their own language and script, thereby strengthening their participation in the democratic process.
Speaking in Santhali, President Murmu expressed her happiness at releasing the Constitution in the Ol Chiki script, calling it a moment of great joy for the entire Santhali society. She said that Santhali-speaking people living in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar will now be able to clearly understand the articles and spirit of the Constitution in their mother tongue.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan thanked President Murmu for her leadership and guidance in taking forward the initiative. He said the step would help Santhali-speaking citizens engage more deeply with constitutional values and contribute more meaningfully to nation-building.
Recalling President Murmu’s tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, the Vice President noted that she had consistently worked for tribal welfare and the promotion of tribal languages and culture. He added that he had continued many of those initiatives during his own tenure as Governor of the state.
With inputs from IANS