Kudmali
Kudmali is an Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Bihari group of spoken languages in Eastern India. Number of native speakers of Kudmali is around 5.5 lakh. It is the language used predominantly in the border areas of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. 39.6% of the total speakers of Kudmali are from West Bengal. They are mostly the inhabitants of the districts of Purulia, Jhargram and West Midnapur. Kudmali is being taught as a subject of UG and PG courses of study in different universities in Jharkhand and West Bengal including Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University and a number of colleges affiliated to it.
Kudmali is the mother tongue of many students of Sitaram Mahato Memorial College. One of the explicitly stated objectives of Sitaram Mahato Memorial College is to encourage linguistic, literary and cultural heritage and tradition of the local people. As partial realization of that objective, the department of Kudmali was established in Sitaram Mahato Memorial College.
Hence, the department of Kudmali is the youngest department of Sitaram Mahato Memorial College, which commenced its journey only in the academic session 2022-23 with BA Honours and General Course in Kudmali. With the adoption of National Education Policy 2020 in 2023 we now have BA Major in Kudmali. Presently the intake capacity of the department is 50 for the Major course. There are two young, dedicated, enthusiastic Invited teachers to run the department, namely:
Mr. Gunadhar Mahato (Invited Teacher)
Mr. Chunaram Mahato (Invited Teacher)
The department strongly believes in a student centred approach to inculcate appreciation for literature among its students. An active participation of the students in different departmental activities enhances our vision of establishing a healthy teaching-learning atmosphere within the department.
Departmental Activities:
The department has proven its zeal by participating in different events beyond its usual syllabus oriented academic activities.
- Wall Magazine: The departmental wall magazine embodies the creative vigour of the students, who express their creative as well as critical views through the wall magazine. It is unveiled annually during Inter Departmental Wall Magazine Competition in the month of April every year.
- Kudmali Language Day: Kudmali Language Day was observed on 19 February 2024 to commemorate the event when Kudmali was recognized as one of the official languages of West Bengal by passing the ‘West Bengal Official Language (Second Ammendment) Bill, 2018’ in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and publishing the Act in the Kolkata Gazette on 19 February 2018. Different aspects and the past, present & future of Kudmali language, literature and culture was discussed in the programme function followed by a brief cultural programme. Sri Hangseswar Mahato, President, Manbhum Cultural Academy was the Chief Guest of the function.
- Remedial Classes: To empower students better in the use of English language, the department has taken the initiative to organize remedial classes in Spoken English and English grammar.
