Page 54 - Mann Ki Baat - English

Digitisation of the Santhali Language: A Path

to Preserving Cultural Identity

ensuring the survival of their
linguistic heritage.
The Role of Digitisation in
Cultural Preservation
For the Santhal people,
language serves as a vital
medium for expressing their
heritage and worldview. Digitising
Ramjit Tudu
the Santhali language addresses
Odisha
significant threats such as
extinction and marginalisation.
This digital transition enables
The Santhali language, cultural preservation to take
spoken by millions across India, a tangible form. The internet
Bangladesh, and Nepal, is at risk facilitates the dissemination
of decline. The Santhal people, of the language beyond
known for their rich oral traditions, geographical boundaries, with
have historically shared their online dictionaries, translation
cultural values, traditions, and tools, and dedicated Santhali
history through storytelling and websites standardising and
folk songs. In today’s digital age, documenting the language.
the preservation of the Santhali Social media platforms
language has increasingly and YouTube also promote
shifted to digitisation, which Santhali folklore and music,
plays a vital role in maintaining helping younger generations
the cultural identity of the stay connected to their roots
Santhal community and amidst the growing influence of

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