Bhumij Onal

Ol Onal script
Ol Onal script;
	‘Bhumij’ written in the Ol Onal script.
Script type	Alphabet
Creator	Mahendra Nath Sardar
Time period	1981 to current
Direction	Left to Right
Region	Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal (India)
Language	Bhumij language
Related scripts
Sister systems	Ol Chiki, Mundari Bani and Warang Citi
Unicode
Unicode alias	Template:ISO 15924 alias
Unicode range	U+1E5D0–U+1E5FF
	This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

The Ol Onal script, also known as Bhumij Onal, and sometimes as the Bhumij alphabet is an alphabet-based writing system specifically designed for the Bhumij language.^[1] It was created by Ol Guru Mahendra Nath Sardar over the course of a decade, from 1981 to 1992. The Ol Onal script finds its application in writing the Bhumij language and is predominantly utilized in various regions spanning West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Assam.^[2]^[3]

History

Between 1981 and 1992, Mahendra Nath Sardar undertook the creation of the Ol Onal script for the Bhumij language. Prior to this development, the Bhumij people lacked a written form of their language, relying on oral transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. To document the Bhumij language, researchers had resorted to the use of scripts like Latin, Devanagari, Bengali and Odia. However, the Bhumijs did not possess their own script until Sardar's invention of the Ol Onal script.

Sardar's pioneering work in devising the Ol Onal script was a significant enrichment of the cultural identity of the Bhumij tribe. He authored numerous textbooks employing the Ol Onal script, which further facilitated the preservation and dissemination of their language and heritage.

Language

Bhumij stands as a prominent member of the Munda subfamily within the Austroasiatic language family, sharing its linguistic roots with Ho, Mundari and Santali. This language is predominantly spoken in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, boasting a speaker base of approximately 100,000 individuals across these regions. As part of the rich tapestry of India's linguistic diversity, Bhumij plays an essential role in the cultural and social identity of the communities in the aforementioned states. Its preservation and continued use are crucial for maintaining the heritage and communication of this significant population.