Digambar Hansda. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, May 16: Santhali scholar Digambar Hansda has been nominated to compile the first essay book in Ol-Chiki script by Sahitya Akademi.

Putting together pieces on a plethora of subjects starting from culture, education, history and tradition, essays on freedom fighters would be included in the voluminous compilation being prepared by the city-based scholar.

What is significant is that the book would be included in the curriculum which prepares students to take the UPSC civil services, postgraduate and the Jharkhand Public Service Commission exams.

Having already finished work on as many as 25 pieces, Hansda hopes to complete work in penning the pieces by September. The book would formally be launched in Delhi by November.

Titled Santhali Ganag Mala, the book is apparently the first such compilation in the tribal language of Santhali. “There are so many compilations penned in different regional languages doing good business in the market, but there is an absolute dearth when it comes to course and reference books in the Santhali language,” said Hansda, a retired principal of Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial College.

Ever since, he has been involved in many literary activities, busy penning books for the state government school syllabus. That apart, there has been a significant contribution of the scholar in creating many relevant books in the Santhali language.

Hansda has to his name a lot of work, prominent among them are Santhali epics of the Ramayan and Mahabharat, work for the completion of which is going on. “I hope to finish work on the essay compilation first. Once that is over, it can be included in the curriculum from the next academic session,” he said.