Tribal languages
Bringing back India’s linguistic heritage
In an age when the world stares at the extinction of most indigenous languages, some passionate rural communities in India have taken innovative initiatives to preserve their languages. On this International Mother Language Day we present a compilation of these stories and initiatives.
Arunachal’s Wancho script faces a challenging future
After developing a script for the phonetically nuanced Wancho language of his community, Banwang Losu, a teacher, finds it a challenge to sustain it in the school curriculum.
Kholey Dai: It takes a village to host this festival
Folk music, local cuisine, scenic Himalayan setting. The upcoming Kholey Dai festival in a Kalimpong village has a lot of attractions for travellers, but at its heart lies the story of a community’s unity and resilience.
Learning the ABC of Toto language
Bengal’s Toto tribals, who come under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, are striving to keep their endangered local language alive by teaching kids its new-created alphabet system.
Present-day challenges to Adivasi languages
While English is seen as the global language offering better opportunities, mother tongue – most importantly Adivasi and tribal languages are the source of life and culture. The prize-winning entry in the essay competition conducted by Adivasi Lives Matter, in partnership with Village Square.
Books in tribal languages help rejuvenate school learning in central India
An initiative that produces books in tribal dialects in an underdeveloped area of Madhya Pradesh is helping tribal children to not only become better learners in school but is also reconnecting them with their indigenous culture and traditions