Syllabus for Santali Literature Optional

Santhali Literature or Santali is an optional subject in the UPSC Civil Services examination. The language is used in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, and Mizoram. Included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India, Santhali is one of the 22 official languages of India.UPSC Mains includes Santali literature as one of the optional subjects.

Part – I

• History of Santali Language.
  • Main Austric Language family, population, and distribution.
• The grammatical structure of Santali Language.
• An important character of Santali Language: Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Translation, Lexicography.
• Impact of other languages on Santali.
• Standardization of Santali Language.

Part – II

• History of Santali Literature
• Literary trends of the following four periods of
• History of Santali Literature
  • Ancient literature before 1854.
  • Missionary period: Literature between 1855 to 1889 AD.
  • Medieval period: Literature between 1890 to 1946 AD.
  • Modern period: Literature from 1947 AD to date.
• Writing tradition in the History of Santali literature.

Section B

• Literary forms – Main characteristics, history, and development of following literary forms.

Part – I

• Folk Literature in Santali – folk song, folk tale, phrase, idioms, puzzles, and Kudum.

Part – II

• Modern literature in Santali
  • Development of poetry and prominent poets.
  • Development of prose and prominent writers.
  • Novels and prominent Novelists.
  • Stories and prominent story writers.
  • Drama and prominent Dramatist.
  • Criticism and prominent critics.
  • Essay, sketches, memoirs, travelogues, and prominent writers.
  • Santali writers.
    • Shyam Sundar Hembram, Pandit Raghunath Murmu, Barha Beshra, Sadhu Ramchand Murmu, Narayan Soren 'Toresutam', Sarada Prasad Kisku, Raghunath Tudu, Kalipada Soren, Sakla Soren, Digambar Hansda, Aditya Mitra 'Santali', Babulal Murmu 'Adivasi', Jadumani Beshra, Arjun Hembram, Krishna Chandra Tudu, Rupchand Hansda, Kalendra Nath Mandi, Mahadev Hansda, Gour Chandra Murmu, Thakur Prasad Murmu, Hara Prasad Murmu, Uday Nath Majhi, Parimal Hembram, Dhirendra Nath Baske, Shyam Charan Hembram, Damayanti Beshra, T.K. Rapaj, Boyha Biswanath Tudu.

Part – III

• Cultural Heritage of Santali tradition, customs, festivals,s and rituals (birth, marriage, and death).

Section A

Ancient Literature 

• Prose
  • Kherwal Bonso Dhorom Puthi – Majhi Ramdas Tudu “Rasika”.
  • Mare Hapramko Reyak Katha – L. O. Scrafsrud.
  • Jomsim Binti Lita – Mangal Chandra Turkulumang Soren.
  • Marang Buru Binti – Kanailal Tudu.
• Poetry
  • Karam Sereng – Nunku Soren.
  • Devi Dasain Sereng – Manindra Hansda.
  • Horh Sereng – W.G. Archer.
  • Baha Sereng – Balaram Tudu.
  • Dong Sereng – Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu 'Thakur'
  • Hor Sereng – Raghunath Murmu.
  • Soros Sereng – Babulal Murmu “Adivasi”.
  • More Sin More Nida – Rup chand Hansda.
  • Judasi Madwa Latar – Tez Narayan Murmu.

Section B

Modern Literature

• PART I – Poetry
  • Onorhen Baha Dhalwak – Paul Jujhar Soren.
  • Asar Binti – Narayan Soren “Tore Sutam”
  • Chand Mala – Gora Chand Tudu.
  • Onto Baha Mala – Aditya Mitra « Santali ».
  • Tiryo Tetang – Hari Har Hansda.
  • Sisirjon Rar – Thakur Prasad Murmu.
• PART II – Novels
  • Harmawak Ato – R.Karstiars (Translator – R.R. Kisku Rapaz)
  • Manu Mati – Chandra Mohan Hansda.
  • Ato Orak – Doman Hansdak.
  • Ojoy Gada Dhiph re – Nathenial Murmu.
• PART III – Stories
  • Jiyon Gada – Rup Chand Hansda and Jadumani Beshra.
  • Mayajaal – Doman Sahu 'Samir' and Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu 'Thakur'
• PART IV – Drama
  • Kherwar Bir – Pandit Raghunath Murmu
  • Juri Khatir – Dr. K.C. Tudu.
  • Birsa Bir – Ravi Lal Tudu
• PART V – Biography
  • Santal Ko Ren Mayam Gohako-Dr. Biswanath Hansda