Pandit Raghunath MurmuThe Father of Ol Chiki Script

Early Life and Education

 Pandit Raghunath Murmu was born on May 5, 1905, in the village of Dahardi (Dandbos) village of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state . He was born into a humble family of farmers and was the youngest of five children. Despite the economic challenges that his family faced, Murmu was determined to receive an education . 

When Raghunath was seven years old, he was sent to a nearby village, Gambhariya U. P. admitted to school. The child Raghunath could not understand Oriya language but he had to start his studies in Oriya language

Creation of the Ol Chiki Script

 When Raghunath was in school as a child, learning Oriya was very difficult for him. It raises questions in his mind as to why he is not getting the opportunity to study in his mother tongue. He came to know that he is not getting the opportunity to study in his mother tongue because he does not have scripts in his mother tongue. Since then, the idea of inventing a script for the Saotali language came to his mind. In fact, like Sadhuram Chand Murmu, Raghunath Murmu also understood that without the development of literature, the development of a nation is impossible and the development of literature requires its own script. So Mama Sawna, after many discussions with Murmu, worked hard to create the Saotali script in 1925. Named - 'Olchiki".

In1938, Alchiki developed a woodblock printing machine for expansion. In February 1939, in a meeting at Baripada, Raghunath brought the printing press and Alchiki to the public. Maharaj saw it and was happy. Only then did the 'alchiki' campaign actually begin

 

Legacy

Pandit Raghunath Murmu's contribution to the Santali language and culture cannot be overstated. His creation of the Ol Chiki script has helped to preserve the language and culture of the Santali people, and it is now recognized as one of the official scripts of India. The script has also helped to promote literacy and education among the Santali community, as it is now used in schools and other educational institutions.

 Apart from his contribution to the Santali language, Murmu was also involved in the Indian independence movement. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and actively participated in various movements and protests against British colonial rule.

 In conclusion, Pandit Raghunath Murmu was a great scholar and visionary who dedicated his life to the betterment of the Santali community. His creation of the Ol Chiki script has had a profound impact on the Santali language and culture, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of Santali people.