9-minute spotlight on Ho script ANIMESH BISOEE

Subhashish Chakraborty

Ever wondered how the word earth is written in the Ho script? Or for that matter, how and from where the characters of Ho — a Munda language developed by Dr Lako Bodra — have been derived?

Short filmmaker Subhashish Chakraborty’s (34) nine-minute documentary Magical Script shall enlighten you.

Ho, the almost extinct language of tribals, was back in the spotlight in Jamshedpur with Chakraborty, a corporate sustainability department employee of Jusco, screening his film at Chambers Bhavan on Saturday.

The screening was attended by more than 200 people, all of whom appreciated the first-of-its-kind endeavour.

A 2006 Union tourism ministry fellowship awardee, Chakraborty did extensive research to trace the origin of Warang Kshiti — a script of Ho that is lying in utter neglect in tribal-dominated Jharkhand. The documentary, he added, was a tribute to Loko Bodra, who has been credited with finding the Warang Kshiti script.

It took nearly two months to complete the documentary that was primarily shot at Ho-dominated villages of Pandadih (in Silli, near Ranchi) and Jorapokhar (in West Singhbhum’s Jhinkpani block).

Speaking to The Telegraph, Chakraborty said that it took him close to one year to conduct research. “I visited various Ho-dominated villages in Ranchi and West Singhbhum and met tribal scholars to collect information,” said Chakraborty.

He added that he was shocked by the neglect shown by the younger generation to the language despite its rich literature and hence, turned his lens on the subject with hopes of changing things around.

Chakraborty, who has to his credit 20 short stories besides a documentary on tribal painters — the film had made it to Cannes Film Festival but failed to bag an award — said that he would distribute copies of the film among “genuine” NGOs that were working for the uplift of tribals.

“The tribals should be made aware of the richness of Ho script,” he said.

“So, my objectives of shooting this film were many. But, primarily I hope to generate interest among the masses about this tribal language and hopefully among government officials too. The state should give the script its due recognition and use Ho for official transactions as well if possible,” added the filmmaker.

In another development, Tata Steel Tribal Development Society on Sunday launched a training in tribal scripts at Karandih with an aim to revive dying tribal languages.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120507/jsp/jharkhand/story_15459734.jsp#.T6iENVLYfiS