present joint charter at Language Dialogue 2026
Surendra Soren
Ranchi
Around 200 scholars, teachers, researchers, students and language enthusiasts participated in the “Tribal and Regional Language Dialogue–2026” held at the Dr Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute (TRI) in Ranchi on Wednesday. Representatives of nine tribal and regional languages—Kurukh, Mundari, Ho, Santali, Nagpuri, Kharia, Khortha, Panchpargania and Kurmali—discussed key issues related to language preservation, education and research.
The event was inaugurated by chief guest Bandhu Tirkey, who stressed the need to protect and promote mother tongues, describing Jharkhand’s indigenous languages as the foundation of the state’s cultural identity. The programme began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, tributes to eminent linguists and a welcome song presented by research scholars from the Mundari department.
During technical sessions, participants held language-wise group discussions on the current status, challenges and future of their respective languages. Their recommendations were consolidated into an 11-point joint memorandum, which was submitted to Bandhu Tirkey for onward consideration by the state government.
Participants emphasized that tribal and regional languages represent not only a medium of communication but also repositories of the state’s history, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. They called for stronger policy support, dedicated funding and institutional mechanisms for their preservation and development.
The gathering also announced the formation of the Tribal and Regional Language Protection Front and resolved to organise a statewide “Tribal and Regional Language Yatra” on September 10, 2026, to promote linguistic awareness and preservation across Jharkhand.
