India bridges heritage and tech with Santali Constitution and semiconductor push

Two major developments highlight India's progress in cultural recognition and technological education. The Constitution of India has now been published in Santali, using the unique Ol Chiki script. Meanwhile, the government's Chips to Startups (C2S) initiative is rapidly expanding to train 85,000 semiconductor engineers over the next decade.

The Santali language, spoken by the Santal community, gained constitutional recognition in 2003. Its script, Ol Chiki, was created in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, a key figure in Santali literature. His works, including Bidu Chandan, Kherwal Veer, and Sido Kanhu - Santal Hul, remain foundational to the language's rich tradition. The community's history of resistance is equally notable, with rebellions like the 1855 Santal Hul led by Sido-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, and their sisters Phoolo-Jhano against British rule and the oppressive zamindari system.

The C2S initiative, part of the India Semiconductor Mission, is accelerating semiconductor education across the country. Currently, 397 universities participate, with designers from 46 institutions already fabricating chips. Students access world-class Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, logging over 1.85 crore hours of usage. The programme also offers hands-on experience in design, fabrication, packaging, and testing at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali.

Leading institutions in the National Capital Region, such as IIT Delhi, NIT Delhi, and JNU, serve as key hubs for semiconductor training. Under ISM 2.0, the initiative plans to expand to 500 universities, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled engineers for the industry.

The publication of the Constitution in Santali strengthens the language's status and preserves its heritage. At the same time, the C2S programme's growth will equip thousands of students with advanced semiconductor skills. Both efforts reflect India's commitment to cultural inclusion and technological advancement.