BJP national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the Government of India for inclusion of the Ho tribal language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Pradhan, who headed a team of leaders belonging to Adibasi HO Samaj Mahasabha, presented a memorandum to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh on Thursday. The memorandum documented contentions for official status of this language and urged the Centre to meet the longstanding demand at an early date.
The memorandum cited the recommendations of the SC, ST Development Department of the Government of Odisha and the Department of Personnel of the Government of Jharkhand highlighting the Ho language’s historical background.
Pradhan said that as per estimates, more than 25 lakh people in States like Odiaha, Jharkhand and West Bengal belonging to tribal communities like Ho, Munda, Koi and Kolha speak the Ho language.
He pointed out that even the Odisha Government’s recommendation has mentioned that the Ho language exponents have developed their own script called ‘Warang Chiti’. In this script, a number of books and journals have been produced and all these have been properly documented.
The recommendation also mentioned that Ho is an ancient tongue with the rich oral tradition of songs, myths and tales.
With this strong background, Ho language has a very powerful case to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution to get an official status, Pradhan said.