Santali

The Department of Santali was established after many struggles. The Department of Santali was originally established as a Santali Language Unit under the Department of Bengali in 1980. During this time the Santali Language Unit used to conduct Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes in Santali Language. The mission of the department at that time was to spread the Santali language among the non-native speakers of the language. These were casual courses that students could take above and beyond their primary programmes of study. During these early years Mr. Barka Saren was the Assistant Lecturer of the unit. In 2003 the Santali language was included as part of the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and in 2004 Mr. Surya Kumar Hansda was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer of the Santali Language Unit.
After many struggles of the Santals the Department of Santali was finally established in 2009 with the BA (Hons.) in Santali programme. The mission of the department is development of Santali Language, Literature and Culture. In 2009 Mr. Sanat Hansda and Dr. Dhaneshwar Manjhi; in 2010 Dr. Dukhia Murmu and Mr. Mansaram Murmu; and in 2011 Mr. Tapan Soren and Mr. Ramu Hembrom were appointed as Assistant Professors at this department. Thereafter, the MA in Santali programme was introduced in 2012. Mr. Tapan Soren in 2013; in 2014 eights scholars (four submitted); in 2016 three scholars and in 2019 six scholars were admitted to the Ph.D. in Santali programme. Finally, the MPhil in Santali programme was introduced in 2018.
Faculty member Mr. Ramu Hembrom was awarded his Ph.D. in Santali from the Department of Odia, Sambalpur University, Sambalpur, Odisha, and Mr. Mansaram Murmu was awarded his Ph.D. in Santali from the Department of Santali, Visva-Bharati. Till date 135 students have successfully passed their BA (Hons.) examinations while approximately 175 students have done the same with the MA examinations. There has been one successful PhD scholar from the department. Approximately 500 students at the certificate, 300 at the Diploma and 150 at the advanced diploma levels have successfully cleared their programmes. There also have been 10 UGC NET; 4 UGC-JRF and 6 NET scholars who have successfully cleared these public examinations. 12 students of the department have been appointed as Assistant Teachers and Assistant Professors through the WBSSC, WBPSC and the WBCSC/University. Members of the faculty have published 9 Books and research scholars of the department have published 5 books and many research articles. Our student Anjali Kisku was awarded the Young Writer Award by the Central Sahitya Academy in 2019.