Biswabrata Goswami
KOLKATA, 14 JULY: At a time when questions of linguistic representation in higher education are gaining urgency, Bankura University has set a significant precedent by introducing undergraduate honours courses in the Santali language, marking a crucial step for the educational empowerment of the Santal community in Bengal’s Junglemahal region.
With the formal launch of a four-year honours programme under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2022, the university has opened doors for students to pursue subjects like Geography, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Physics in their mother tongue. The initiative, backed by the West Bengal Government’s Higher Education Department, is expected to address a longstanding academic disadvantage faced by Santal students, many of whom have studied Santali up to the Higher Secondary level but faced linguistic barriers in accessing higher education.
The university authorities said the step was necessary, given the significant concentration of the Santal population in the Junglemahal region, particularly in parts of Bankura, Purulia, and Jhargram. For decades, these students have completed schooling in Santali only to face exclusion in higher studies due to the absence of courses in their native language. University officials believe this linguistic mismatch has contributed to high dropout rates and educational deprivation in the region.
Bankura University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Debasish Debnath said, “The introduction of Santali as a medium of instruction is part of our commitment to inclusive education. Higher education in one’s mother tongue enhances comprehension and fosters a deeper connection to knowledge.”
The university’s official website has issued detailed notifications about the courses, eligibility criteria, and admission procedures. Students who have passed the Higher Secondary examination from any government-recognised institution are eligible to apply. Admissions will be conducted on a merit basis, and the university has made available contact details for queries, including direct access to the Secretary of Undergraduate Studies, Arindam Chakraborty, who can be reached at 9832256160.
Though Bankura University has been conducting undergraduate programmes for years, the inclusion of Santali medium courses is being regarded as a pioneering move. Educationists have welcomed the decision as a long-overdue recognition of the linguistic and cultural identity of the Santal community.
Scholars and community leaders believe that this initiative reflects the fruits of the democratic movements led by the Santal people over decades, demanding greater cultural and linguistic representation. “This is not just an academic milestone but a social one,” said a senior academician. “By enabling higher education in Santali, the university is not merely facilitating education but acknowledging and validating a culture that has been historically marginalised.”
The move is also expected to pave the way for research in Santali language and literature, an area that has remained largely underexplored in formal academia. University officials confirmed that opportunities for postgraduate studies and research in Santali are being considered as part of the long-term academic roadmap.
Recognised under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, Santali is one of the country’s oldest and richest indigenous languages. Yet, its place in higher education institutions has remained peripheral. Bankura University’s initiative, therefore, is being viewed as a critical intervention that could encourage similar efforts across other universities and states with significant tribal populations.
As the new academic session begins, many in Junglemahal see in this initiative not just a new curriculum, but a new chapter in the assertion of identity, dignity, and educational rights.
