Darjeeling

Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said the contributions of the Santal community to India’s freedom struggle have not received due recognition and that several legends from the community were not included in history.

Speaking after inaugurating the ninth International Santal Conference at Bidhannagar in Siliguri in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, the President emphasised the importance of education for children from the community.

“I know how much the Santals have contributed to the country’s freedom struggle. But the names of Santal legends have not deliberately been included in history,” Murmu said.

She urged the community to ensure that the younger generation receives proper schooling.

“I want all children of the Santal community to get a good education, and this will help them become independent and stronger,” she said.

Murmu also encouraged the community to learn additional languages along with the Ol Chiki script to expand their opportunities.

The script for the Santhali language was invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu and has since become a strong symbol of identity for Santals across the world, helping promote unity within the community.

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The President also raised questions about whether recipients of prestigious honours such as the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri are doing enough to uphold the prestige of these recognitions and contribute meaningfully to society.