The Pandit Raghunath Murmu Research Chair, KISS-DU, organized a student seminar on the topic “Legendary Pandit Raghunath Murmu: Life and Works” on 23rd May 2024 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar, KISS-DU in his address, stressed on the need for carrying forward the vision of the legend Pandit Raghunath Murmu. He suggested all the students to learn their script, stay connected with their communities and insisted that all the students should become change agents by teaching in their communities through mother tongue based education. He inspired the students of KISS-DU to work on literature on their communities and publish and concluded his address by motivating them to carry forward the work of Pandit Raghunath Murmu and engage in community work. Dr. Kanhu Charan Mahali, Director General, Training and Placement Cell and the Chairperson of the Tribal Advisory Council, KISS-DU encouraged the students to take up Santal as an optional subject in the UPSC and to make optimum use of the Civil Services coaching being offered on KISS-DU premises. He emphasized on the need for contributing to their commuity’s language and literature. He also spoke about Pandit Raghunamth Murmu’s contributions towards Ol Chiki and we should be proud that it has been included in the Eighth Schedule.
Dr. Naran Tudu, Assistant Professor, Santal Programme, School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures, KISS-DU spoke about the significance behind celebrating this day. He stressed on the fact that now the onus lies on us to carry forward the legacy of the legend. He added that some of the universities offer Santali as a subject which is a matter of pride for all of us. Pandit Raghunath Murmu was not only the creator of Ol Chiki but a social activist, poet, and dramatist. but of told two major main in their speech , one is why today we are celebrate . Mr. Kadey Soren, Deputy Director Academics, KISS-DU shared a childhood incident of Pandit Raghunath Murmu which motivated him to create the Ol Chiki script in 1925. He drew a comparison between Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Pandit Raghunath Murmu’s “Bidu Chandan”, wherein he opined that both the drama have the same theme. Mr. Soren also stressed on the fact that as of now only one TV, Kalinga TV channel has initiated the telecast of news in Santali language. Dr. Naran Tudu proposed a Vote of Thanks.
Mr. Raju Mardi, Ms. Minati Marndi, Ms. Pabitra Hembram (Research Scholars of Santal Programme) and Ms. Manisha Laguri (Research Scholar Commerce Programme) also delivered speeches on the occasion. In another momentous occasion, Hon’ble Founder of KISS & KIIT, Dr. Achyuta Samanta unveiled the statue of Pandit Raghunath Murmu in KISS-DU premises in the presence of senior functionaries of the university.
