Ho tribes’ library: A peep into language and culture
JAMSHEDPUR: Now you just have to turn the pages to explore bygone eras, time-honoured tales and historical narratives of tribal culture in Jharkhand.
More than 3,000 books on Ho grammar, literature, religion, tribal law, history and tradition written in various languages including Ho script Warang Chiti have been put on the shelves of the first library built for the Ho tribe of India.
The Ho people are the fourth most numerous scheduled tribe in the state. They also inhabit bordering areas of Odisha and West Bengal.
Senya Umpul (Knowledge Shelter), the only library for Ho tribe, was opened for public in September this year to protect tribal traditions and literature.
The library, situated in Chaibasa (around 65 km from Jamshedpur), is meant for the Ho population of around 10 lakh residing in bordering districts of Jharkhand and Odisha.
Former chief minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda inaugurated the library cum study centre in July this year and ensured funds from the Art and Culture department of the state government. The Adivasi Ho Samaj Mahasabha (AHSM) administers it.
Around 900 Ho people, residing in various parts of the country, donate ` 100 monthly to meet the expenditures of the library and over 100 Ho youths have become members of the library so far.
Books written by Lako Bodra (inventor of the Ho script), upgraded grammar books on the script and competitive books on the language for state civil service examinations can also be found in the library.
President of AHSM Krishna Chandra Bodra said they were planning to open another library on the same lines in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
“The local legislator has donated funds for the second library and the building’s construction has started. People will be able to benefit from the library soon,” Bodra said.
“Famous literary persons of the Ho tribe Puran Chandra Birua and Lako Bodra are our inspirations for this literary revolution among Ho youths. Now they are getting competitive books and other reading materials at their own library. Earlier, they were deprived of it due to lack of books in Ho language under one roof,” Bodra added.