Nagpuri language

The language is known by several names, such as Nagpuri, Nagpuria, Sadani, Sadri etc. In the literary tradition, the language is known as Nagpuri, which is the polished and literary language especially used by Hindus and in cities. While Sadri refers to the spoken and non-literary form of the language,

especially spoken by tribal groups in the countryside.{{Cite journal|last1=Paudyal|first1=Netra P.|last2=Peterson|first2=John|date=1 September 2020|title=How one language became four: the impact of different contact-scenarios between "Sadani" and the tribal languages of Jharkhand|journal=Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics|language=en|volume=7|issue=2|pages=275–306|doi=10.1515/jsall-2021-2028|issn=2196-078X|doi-access=free}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/ranchi/story-displeasure-over-giving-two-separate-codes-to-nagpuri-language-4211377.html|title=नागपुरी भाषा को दो अलग कोड देने पर नाराजगी|newspaper=liveHindustan|date=11 July 2021|access-date=10 August 2022}} The name Nagpuri is derived from the region ruled by Nagvanshi, named as Chutia Nagpur (Chota Nagpur Division) by the British to distinguish it from Nagpur of Maharashtra.Sir John Houlton, Bihar, the Heart of India, pp. 127–128, Orient Longmans, 1949. Similarly, the Sadani term derived from the languages of Sadan ethnolinguistic group of Chotanagpur. The Sadani also refer to closely related Indo-Aryan languages of Jharkhand such as Nagpuri, Panchpargania, Kurmali and Khortha.

Nagpuri language writers are in favour of using Nagpuri as the name of the language. There is an opposition against the use of the word Sadri and giving two names Sadan/Sadri and Nagpuria, to a single language in the upcoming Indian census. According to them, the name of the language is Nagpuri and the native speakers of the language are known as Nagpuria. The British also wrote a grammar using the name Nagpuri in 1906, and Nagpuri is the official name of the language in Jharkhand.{{Cite news|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/ranchi/story-opposition-to-conspiracy-to-divide-nagpuri-in-linguistic-census-4467320.amp.html|title=भाषाई जनगणना में नागपुरी को बांटने की साजिश का विरोध|newspaper=Hindustan|date=29 August 2021|access-date=10 August 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/gumla-d-22715444.html|title=झारखंड में नागपुरी के साथ जुल्म हो रहा है : मधु मंसुरी|work=Dainik Jagran|date=15 May 2022|access-date=10 August 2022}}

Alternate names of Nagpuri language include: Sadani, Sadana, Sadati, Sadari, Sadhan, Sadna, Sadrik, Santri, Siddri, Sradri, Sadhari, Sadan, Nagpuria, Chota Nagpuri, Dikku Kaji, Gawari, Ganwari, Goari, Gauuari, Jharkhandhi.

{{Cite web|title=Sadri (Language code 'sck')|work=Global Recordings Network|access-date=25 August 2012|url =http://globalrecordings.net/en/langcode/sck|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120513013106/http://globalrecordings.net/en/langcode/sck|archive-date=13 May 2012}}{{Cite web|title=Oraon Sadri(Language code 'sdr')|work= Global Recordings Network|access-date=25 August 2012|url=http://globalrecordings.net/en/langcode/sdr|url-status= live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515021551/http://globalrecordings.net/en/langcode/sdr|archive-date=15 May 2012

}}{{Cite web|title=Ethnologue report for language code: sck|work= Ethnologue|access-date=25 August 2012|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=sck|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831083014/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=sck|archive-date = 31 August 2012}}

There are different opinions among linguists about the origin of the Nagpuri language. According to Peter Shanti Navrangi, Nagpuriya Sadani or Nagpuri originated from ancient Prakrit. According to professor Keshri Kumar Singh, Nagpuri is an Apabhramsha and descendant of Magadhi Prakrit in his book "Nagpuri bhasa ebam Sahitya". According to Dr. Shravan Kumar Goswami, Nagpuri evolved from Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFmxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA195|title=Jharkhand Samanya Gyan|isbn=9789351867982|last1=Ranjan|first1=Manish|date=19 August 2002|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan }}

According to him, Nagpuri might have originated between the 8th to 11th centuries and developed into a full-fledged language between the 14th to 15th centuries. According to Yogendra Nath Tiwari, Nagpuri is an ancient language that was in existence before Chotanagpur or Jharkhand started to be known as Nagpur and evolved from Jharkhand Prakrit. There is no consensus among scholars from which language Nagpuri has evolved. Several similarities are found between the words of Hindi, Nagpuri, Apabrahmsa, Prakrit and Sanskrit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342833425|title=JOURNAL OF CRITICAL REVIEWS A Study of the Special Features of Nagpuri Language of Jharkhand|publisher=research gate|date=July 2020|access-date=23 September 2022}}

The Nagpuri language was the court language of the Nagvanshi dynasty and the official language of Chotanagpur till British rule. Evidence of literature is available from the 17th century. In 1903, Sir George Abraham Grierson classified Nagpuri as the Nagpuria dialect of the Bhojpuri language in his "Linguistic Survey of India".

File:Linguistic map of East Chota Nagpur.jpg

Nagpuri has been placed in the Bihari group of Indo-Aryan languages.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4387|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|isbn=9788126012213|last1=Lal|first1=Mohan|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi }} It is sometimes considered a dialect of Bhojpuri.{{Cite journal |last=Bahl |first=Kali C. |date=1971 |title=Sadani: A Bhojpuri Dialect Spoken in Chotanagpur . Monika Jordan-Horstmann. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/aa.1971.73.4.02a00680 |journal=American Anthropologist |volume=73 |issue=4 |pages=909–910 |doi=10.1525/aa.1971.73.4.02a00680 |issn=0002-7294|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zz48AAAAMAAJ&q=Bhojpuri+dialect+nagpuri |title=The New Encyclop©Œdia Britannica |date=1983 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |isbn=978-0-85229-400-0 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Thiel-Horstmann |first=M. |year=1969 |title=Sadani : a Bhojpuri dialect spoken in Chotanagpur |s2cid=127410862 |language=en}} Recent studies demonstrate that the Indo-Aryan languages of the Chota Nagpur plateau such as Nagpuri, Khortha, Panchpargania, Kurmali language, which are called Sadani languages, are distinct languages and are more closely related to each other. Nagpuri has been substantially influenced by nearby Dravidian and Munda languages.

{{Pie chart

|caption=Distribution of Nagpuri language in the state of India (2011 census){{Cite web|title=C-16: Population by mother tongue, India - 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10191/download/13303/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.XLSX |access-date=20 March 2024}}

|value1 = 46.7

|label1 = Jharkhand

|value2 = 14.5

|label2 = West Bengal

|value3 = 14

|label3 = Assam

|value4 = 12.7

|label4 = Chhattisgarh

|value5 = 6.8

|label5 = Odisha

|value6 = 4.1

|label6 = Rajasthan

|other = yes

|other-color = pink

}}

The Nagpuri language is mainly spoken in the western Chota Nagpur Plateau region. The geographical distribution of language is tabulated below;

It is also spoken by some Tea garden community in Tea garden area of Assam, West Bengal, Bangladesh and Nepal who were taken as labourer to work in Tea garden during British Rule.

Historically, Nagpuri was the lingua-franca in the region. It was the court language during the reign of the Nagvanshi dynasty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/giant-new-chapter-for-nagpuri-poetry/cid/362632|title=Giant new chapter for Nagpuri poetry|website=telegraphindia|date=5 November 2012}} Nagpuri is accorded as an additional official language in the Indian state of Jharkhand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-official-languages-of-indian-states-and-union-territories-1624022980-1|title=List of Official Languages of Indian States and Union Territories|publisher=jagranjosh|date=23 June 2021|access-date=4 December 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/|title=Jharkhand gives second language status to Magahi, Angika, Bhojpuri and Maithili|website=avenuemail|date=11 March 2018|access-date=28 March 2019|archive-date=28 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428140711/https://www.avenuemail.in/ranchi/jharkhand-gives-second-language-status-to-magahi-angika-bhojpuri-and-maithili/118291/|url-status=dead}} There is demand to include Nagpuri in the Eighth schedule.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Requests-to-include-38-languages-in-Constitution-pending-Govt/article16850895.ece/|title=Requests to include 38 languages in Constitution pending: Govt|website=thehindu|date=1 December 2009}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/38-languages-stake-claim-to-be-in-eighth-schedule/|title=38 languages stake claim to be in Eighth schedule|website=dailyexcelsior|date=16 August 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/demand-for-joining-the-nagpur-language-8th-schedule/amplite/1165636.html|title='नागपुरी पझरा' संवाद कार्यक्रम में उठी नागपुरी भाषा को 8वीं अनुसूची में शामिल करने की मांग|website=prabhatkhabar|date=3 June 2018 }} Some academics oppose inclusion of Hindi dialects in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as full-fledged Indian languages. According to them, recognition of Hindi dialects as separate languages would deprive Hindi of millions of its speakers and eventually no Hindi will be left.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Don%E2%80%99t-add-Hindi-dialects-in-Eighth-Schedule-say-academics/article17064058.ece/|title=Don't add Hindi dialects in Eighth Schedule, say academics|website=thehindu|date=20 January 2017}}

• {{IPA|[ɳ]}} occurs from Sanskrit loanwords, or as realisations of {{IPA|/n/}}.
• {{IPA|/h/}} can be voiced as {{IPA|[ɦ]}} when between vowels.
• {{IPA|/ɖ, ɖʱ/}} can be heard as taps {{IPA|[ɽ, ɽʱ]}} when in word-medial position.
• {{IPA|/ɾ/}} can also be heard as retroflex {{IPA|[ɽ]}} when after back vowels.

• {{IPA|/i/}} can be heard as {{IPA|[i̞]}} or {{IPA|[ɪ]}}, in short, closed, non-final syllables in free variation.
• {{IPA|/ɛ, ɛː/}} can be heard as more close {{IPA|[e, eː]}} in free variation within word-final syllables.
• {{IPA|/a/}} can be heard as front {{IPA|[a]}} or central {{IPA|[ä]}} in free variation.
• {{IPA|/ʌ, ʌː/}} is heard as more rounded {{IPA|[ʌ̹, ʌ̹]}} when after bilabial consonants, as {{IPA|[ʌ̞]}} when in short syllables, and as {{IPA|[ə, əː]}} when the final syllable contains an {{IPA|/i/}}, or when following a {{IPA|/ɖ/}} or {{IPA|/ɾ/}}.
• {{IPA|/ɔ, ɔː/}} can be heard as {{IPA|[o, oː]}} in free variation.{{Cite book |last1=Peterson |first1=John |title=A grammar of Chotanagpuri Sadri: An Indo-Aryan Lingua Franca of Eastern Central India |last2=Baraik |first2=Sunil |publisher=Central Institute of Indian Languages |year=2022 |oclc=1400959176 |isbn=9789394835153 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLc40AEACAAJ}}

• {{IPA|[əɪ̯]}} is a realisation of {{IPA|/ʌi̯/}}.

There are similarities between the words of Nagpuri, Hindi, Apabhramsha, Prakrit and Sanskrit which are given in the table below.

Magadhi, Nagpuri and Jharkhand Prakrit use "la" in the past tense, "ta" in the present tense and "ma" in the future tense. The words are given below in the table.

Below are some words about relationships in Nagpuri in the table.

Below are some words of daily use in Nagpuri, Hindi and English in the table.

The Nagpuri language spoken in different districts such as Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega and Garhwa varies with each other.

The early inscriptions found in the region are in Brahmi script. The Saridkel Brahmi Inscription from Khunti district is from 3rd century BCE. Several inscriptions of forts, temples and land grants are found from the 10th century, such as from Mahamaya temple of Hapamuni built by Gajghat Rai, Nagfeni, Navratangarh fort of Gumla district, Boreya and Jagannath temple of Ranchi. Some Buddhist inscriptions are undated, such as from Khalari and Jonha Falls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360485893|title=Inscriptions in Jharkhand: A Preliminary Study|author=Lalit Aditya|date=October 2018|access-date=30 August 2022}} Inscriptions of the modern period are in Devnagari script. Nagpuri poetry has been written in Devnagari and Kaithi script during the 17th century. At present, mainly Devnagari script is used in literature.

{{Main|Nagpuri literature}}

The Nagpuri language is rich in folk tales, folk songs and riddles. Literature in the Nagpuri language are available since the 17th century. The Nagvanshi king Raghunath Shah is first known poet of Nagpuri language. These poems were composed in Devnagari script and Kaithi script.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2014/state-editions/bid-to-save-language-treasure-by-dr-keshri.html|title=Bid to save language treasure by Dr Keshri|website=dailypioneer|date=30 March 2014|access-date=16 September 2019}} Some Nagpuri peots were Hanuman Singh, Jaigovind Mishra, Barju Ram Pathak, Ghasi Ram Mahli, Das Mahli, Mahant Ghasi and Kanchan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/nagpuri-cinema/nagpuri-artist-singer-mahavir-nayak-nagpuri-raga-ragini-preserving/1325460.html|title=नागपुरी राग-रागिनियों को संरक्षित कर रहे महावीर नायक|website=prabhatkhabar|date=4 September 2019|access-date=17 September 2019}} "Nagvanshavali" (1876), written by Beniram Mehta, is a historical work in the nagpuri language. The poet Ghasi Ram Mahli wrote several works, including "Nagvanashavali", "Durgasaptasati", "Barahamasa", "Vivha Parichhan" etc. There were also great writers like Pradumn Das and Rudra Singh.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1TCcDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA244|title=Jharkhand Samanya Gyan 2016|isbn=9789351866848|last1=Ranjan|first1=Manish|date=January 2016|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan }}

It is believed that prose writing in the nagpuri language started by Christian missionaries. E.H.Whitley wrote Notes on the Ganwari dialect of Lohardaga, Chhota Nagpur in 1896, which considered the start of writing prose in the nagpuri language.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8NAEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA215|title=JPSC Mains Paper-III History and Geography (Hindi): Dr. Manish Ranjan (IAS)|isbn=978-9390906833|author=Dr. Manish Ranjan|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|date=2021}}

Some Nagpuri language writers and poets in the modern period are Praful Kumar Rai, Sahani Upendra Pal Singh, Shiv Avtar Choudhary, Lal Ranvijay Nath Shahdeo, Bisheshwar Prasad Keshari and Girdhari Ram Gonjhu.

Monthly Nagpuri magazines Gotiya and Johar Sahiya have been published in Ranchi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/nagpuri-call-for-culture/cid/562024|title=Nagpuri call for culture|website=telegraphindia|date=25 July 2008}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.in/newspapers_details/ref_id-38355/language-nagpuri/periodicity-monthly/district-ranchi/state-jharkhand|title=JOHAR SAHIYA|website=newspapers}} Several magazines have also been published in Assam, West Bengal's Tarai and Dooars districts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thethumbprintmag.com/new-insight-into-tea-community-of-assam/|title=New insight into tea community of Assam|website=thethumbprintmag|date=25 May 2015|access-date=28 March 2019|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518010425/http://www.thethumbprintmag.com/new-insight-into-tea-community-of-assam/|url-status=dead}}

Some poets, writers and their works in the nagpuri language are as follows:{{bsn|date=February 2025}}

Nagpuri taught at some high schools as a subject in Jharkhand.{{Cite news|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/ranchi/story-emphasis-given-on-promotion-of-nagpuri-language-7311440.amp.html|title=नागपुरी भाषा के प्रचार-प्रसार पर दिया गया जोर|website=livehindustan|date=5 November 2022|access-date=7 November 2022}}

It is also taught at Ranchi University, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi Women's College, Suraj Singh Memorial College, J.N College, Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College, Doranda College, Simdega College and other universities of Jharkhand.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/RU-gold-medallist-to-promote-Nagpuri-lang/articleshow/50666891.cms|title=RU gold medallist to promote Nagpuri lang|website=timesofindia|date=21 January 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.inextlive.com/lite/jharkhand/ranchi/regional-courses-19114|title=11 कॉलेजों में चलते हैं रीजनल कोर्स|publisher=inextlive|date=2 April 2014|access-date=7 November 2022}}

• Nagpuri culture
• Nagpuri cinema

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite book |title= Linguistic Survey of India – Jharkhand |publisher=Language division, Office of the Registrar General, India |year=2021|chapter=Nagpuria |first1=S.P. |last1=Srivastava |first2= Ranjita |last2=Pattanaik |url=https://language.census.gov.in/eLanguageDivision_VirtualPath/LSI_Reports/pdf/2.pdf |pages=432–565}}
• {{Cite book |title= Linguistic Survey of India – Jharkhand |publisher=Language division, Office of the Registrar General, India |year=2021|chapter=Sadan/Sadri |first1=Tapati |last1=Ghosh |first2= Ranjita |last2=Pattanaik |url=https://language.census.gov.in/eLanguageDivision_VirtualPath/LSI_Reports/pdf/2.pdf |pages=645–691}}

• {{Cite book|last=Blain |first=Edgar |year=1975 |title=English-Sadri Dictionary |location=Jharsuguda, Orissa |publisher=The Society of the Divine Word |oclc=17730482 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lyk3AAAAIAAJ}}
• {{Cite book|first1=Sushant |last1=Oram

|first2=Mangaraj |last2=Oram

|first3=Fakir |last3=Kispatta

|first4=Saroj Kumar |last4=Minj |title=Odia-Sadri Sabdakosh |year=2018 |publisher=Special Development Council, Sundargarh, Planning & Convergence Department, Govt. of Odisha |language=or |url=https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/74074/1/SCST_2018_dict_0146.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815180636/https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/74074/1/SCST_2018_dict_0146.pdf |archive-date=15 August 2022 |url-status=live}}

{{refend}}

{{Bihari languages}}

{{Languages of Bangladesh}}

{{Languages of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagpuri Language}}

Category:Bihari languages

Category:Eastern Indo-Aryan languages

Category:Indo-Aryan languages

Category:Languages of Jharkhand

Category:Languages of Odisha

Category:Languages of West Bengal

Category:Languages of Bangladesh

Category:Nagpuri language

Category:Nagpuri culture

Category:Languages written in Devanagari

Category:Languages listed as Hindi dialects in latest census