Kolkata: Jadavpur University (JU) may soon have a Santhali department in its campus which will be the first of its kind in Kolkata.
The move on the part of JU assumes significance as tribal and indigenous languages are disappearing at an all time high rate in the country in present times.
"I had written to the state Higher Education department and the state government has given a very positive response to my letter. We are now preparing the course curriculum and will submit the same to the state government," said Suranjan Das, Vice-Chancellor of JU.
The university aims to churn out talented individuals and experts of the glorious Santhal language and culture who will help in spreading the beauty of this culture intentionally. There has also been a demand from a section of students to set up such a department.
The varsity has already set up a committee composed of, the HODs of Comparative Literature, Bengali , Sanskrit and English, Director School of Linguistics, Associate professor of History Dr. Maroona Murmu and Assistant Professor of Film studies. Shradhanjali Tamang to set up the department.
Vidyasagar University, Burdwan University and Sidho Kanho Birsa University offer Santhali as a language of instruction. Santhali is one of the tribal languages of ancient India with a written history of almost 20 years.
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education had brought out question papers in Santhali for the first time this year.