Chaibasa, May 13: The proposed visit of chief minister Arjun Munda to Kolhan on May 19 might breathe a fresh lease of life into the dying Ho script.
The Institute of Ancient Culture and Science Society (IACSS), a research organisation, has been trying to get “Warang Chhiti,” the ancient Ho script, recognised by the government. It has sent several proposals to the government to codify the script and put it on the list of official languages.
There are 32 alphabets in the Warang script and it is believed to be the root of all tribal languages. “It is a very scientific language. According to the script, when a child cries for the first time after birth, this sound resembles that of the vowels — a, e, i, o and u. What we study today has been derived from this script,” says 75-year-old Charan Hansda, a veteran tribal linguist.
According to Hansda, the language is as old as history. “It has been scripted in the metal age, when man first learnt the use of tools. In an attempt to preserve the script, the institute is teaching the script and researching it at the micro- level.
“We have trained at least 1,000 people. Now, they can read, write, speak and communicate in the language that has become obsolete here,” said vice- president of institute Budhan Singh Kunkal. “However, there has been a setback in research work because of the lack of government support and poor awareness.”
“The Ho dialect is a branch of the Austic language, which was spoken by the Lurka Kol Ho people of Kolhan. Many people settled in central and south India speak this language,” a vice- president said. The IACSS was founded by Lako Bodra, who died in 1986. After his death, his disciple Charan Hansda took the responsibility of highlighting the script.
The society has also constructed an office at Barajhinkpani, 16 km from Chaibasa, but the government has not yet recognised the script. “We want Warang Chhiti to be introduced as a subject in primary schools and tribal teachers should be appointed to teach the language,” secretary Dobro Buriuli said.
The society has been demanding recognition to the institute and aid for various research projects. It has also demanded appointment of teachers.
