Santali

The Department of Santali was started in the year 1980 under the aegis of Prof. Surajit Chandra Sinha, the then Vice Chancellor of Visva-Bharati as one of the units under Department of Bengali, Vidya-Bhavana. Initially the Department started offering certificate course. Later Diploma and advanced diploma courses were also initiated by this department.  During this early years Mr. Barka Saren is assistant lecturer of this unit. In later period the teaching however remained suspended for some reason unknown to us.

 On 22^th December 2003, Santali language was included under 8^th schedule of the constitution of India. Immediately thereafter the demand for the teaching of Santali language at both honors and post graduate level under Visva-Bharati, a central university, was raised with high assertion. Ultimately proposal for teaching under graduate course with honors in Santali literature was recommended by academic council and finally approved by executive council of the university in the year 2009 under aegis of Prof.  Rajat Kanta Roy, the then Vice Chancellor of this university. Visva-Bharati became first university in West Bengal to offer honors course in Santali language. Due to this event the study of Santali Language, Literature, Art and Culture started flourishing day by day. In due course it was followed by post graduate course in the year 2012 and consecutively doctoral course in Santali was offered by this department in the year 2013. Besides, this department was started M.Phil. course in the year 2019, but this course is no longer offered by this department as this course is discontinued as a degree program in India from the academic year 2021. At present these three courses are running with great gusto by the five full time faculty members under the Bhasha-Bhavana of Visva-Bharati.