 |
| Tolong Siki | |
|---|---|
| File:Tolong-siki.svg The word Tolong Siki written in Tolong Siki | |
| Script type | |
| Creator | Dr Narayan Oraon |
| Created | 1999 |
Time period | 1999 to present |
| Direction | Left to Right |
| Official script | India
|
| Region | India |
| Languages | Kurukh |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | Original invention (Influenced by Dravidian scripts)
|
| Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Template:ISO 15924 alias |
| U+11DB0–U+11DEF Tolong Siki | |
Template:Writing systems in India Tolong Siki (kru, ) is an alphabetic script made specifically for Kurux language in 1999 by Narayan Oraon, a doctor. Many books and magazines have been published in Tolong Siki, and it was officially recognised by the state of Jharkhand in 2007.[1][3] The Kurukh Literary Society of India has been instrumental in spreading the Tolong Siki script for Kurukh literature.[4][5]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The name Tolong Siki is derived from two Kurukh terms:[6]
- Tolong: Refers to a traditional garment (loincloth) worn by men in the Kurukh community. The script's creator, Dr. Narayan Oraon, used the styles of wrapping this garment as inspiration for the shapes of the letters.
- Siki: A modified version of the word Sika, which refers to the traditional practice of branding marks on the arms or skin, often used to denote identity or endurance. In this context, it simply means "script" or "symbol."
Vowels[edit | edit source]
Tolong Siki contains 6 basic vowel letters:
| Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter |
Consonants[edit | edit source]
Tolong Siki represents native consonant sounds using a basic inventory of 36 letters:
Numerals[edit | edit source]
Tolong Siki has its own set of decimal digits (0–9) that function identically to standard Western numerals.
| Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter | Template:Letter |
Sample text[edit | edit source]
The following text is Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in Tolong Siki:[lower-alpha 1][7]
Kurukh in Tolong Siki[edit | edit source]
Romanisation[edit | edit source]
Translation[edit | edit source]
Unicode[edit | edit source]
Tolong Siki was added to the Unicode Standard in September 2025 with the release of version 17.0.
The Unicode block for Tolong Siki is U+11DB0–U+11DEF: Template:Unicode chart Tolong Siki
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Tolong Siki Numerials & Signs [3]
-
Tolong Siki alphabet
![Tolong Siki Numerials & Signs [3]](/w/index.php?title=Special:Upload&wpDestFile=TolongSikiNumerials%26Signs.jpg){kind=link}
![Tolong Siki Script [4] [5]](/w/index.php?title=Special:Upload&wpDestFile=Tolong_Siki.jpg){kind=link}
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary) - Ordinance No. 6 of 2018" (PDF). PRS Legislative Research. Government of Jharkhand. 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ↑ "The West Bengal Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2018". India Code. Government of West Bengal. April 5, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ↑ Xalxo, RC (April 15, 2022). "Demand renewed for official language status to Kurukh". The New Indian Express. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ↑ Ager, Simon. "Tolong Siki alphabet and the Kurukh language". Omniglot. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Pandey, Anshuman (2010-04-08). "Preliminary Proposal to Encode the Tolong Siki Script in the UCS" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-12-19.
- ↑ Minj, Nolina (2023-02-15). "The doctor and priest who gave life to an Adivasi script". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ "Tolong Siki Alphabet". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ a suitable Unicode font may be required for proper viewing
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Kobayashi, Masato; Tirkey, Bablu (2017). The Kurux Language. Boston: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-34766-3.