Make Kurmali language regional and include it in BBMKU syllabi: Students
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The 10-km march saw participation from students of various colleges from Dhanbad and Bokaro districts. Social workers and local leaders also joined and showed solidarity with the students.
The march began with a gathering at BBM College, where student leaders addressed the crowd, highlighting the Kurmali language's importance towards bringing regional unity and giving a distinct cultural identity. Leading the procession, student leader Yugdeo Mahtha strongly criticised the university administration for allegedly ignoring the students' other demands.
"Since its establishment in 2017, BBMKU has not conducted student elections. This shows the administration's apathy towards the students' concerns," Mahtha said, addressing the protestors on the university campus. "Kurmali is not just a language, it is our identity. It must be treated equally like other regional languages and included in the curriculum without delay," he said.
The students also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the vice-chancellor's office though the officer was not present.
Their primary demand is the introduction of PG courses in Kurmali as well as their inclusion in the B Ed curriculum. The protesters emphasised that promoting Kurmali in academics would not only preserve the language but also create employment opportunities for the Kurmali speakers across the state.
"Thousands of Kurmali-speaking people live in Jharkhand. By including it in the syllabi, the state can ensure better representation and jobs for the native speakers," said Priyanka Kumari, one of the protesting students.
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While the protest ended peacefully, the agitators warned of intensifying the agitation if the university fails to fulfil their demands. Meanwhile, BBMKU officials declined to comment but a university official said, "The vice-chancellor will look into the matter."
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