Beloved Nonagenarian and Gondi Language Protector Passes Away, Leaving Legacy of Cultural Richness
Renowned tribal elder Kotnak Jangu passed away at 90 in his native Gunjala village, Adilabad district, on Sunday, September 22, 2024. A stalwart of the Gond tribe, Jangu played a vital role in preserving the Gondi language and the ‘Gunjala Gondi script’. His remarkable contributions have been pivotal in maintaining the cultural heritage of the Adivasi tribes.
Jangu’s efforts were instrumental in preserving invaluable Gondi manuscripts, crucial for the linguistic and cultural education of Gond communities. He supported the initiatives of the ‘Gunjala Koyatoor Lipi Adhyayana Vedika’ and worked closely with the Centre for Dalit and Adivasi Studies and Translation (CDAST), University of Hyderabad, and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency in Utnoor. These collaborations resulted in the development of the ‘Gunjala Koyatoor Alphabet Font’ and educational Readers for primary schools.
His tireless work saw the publication and introduction of Gondi script textbooks in several state-run schools in the Gunjala region. Prof. Jayadhir Thirumal Rao, ex-director of the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscript Library and Research Centre, lauded Jangu’s immense contribution to the cultural and educational resurgence of the Gondi script, noting his death as a significant loss for the community.
Published on: September 23, 2024, 03:38 PM IST.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/nonagenarian-known-for-his-proficiency-in-gondi-language-passes-away/article68673342.ece
Category : Telangana
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