Dr. Narayan Oraon

Birthplace: Sainda, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Profession: Paediatrician, Medical Officer & Cultural Activist
Community: Kurukh (Oraon) Adivasi
Contact: +91 97711 63804

Profile:
Dr. Narayan Oraon is a medical doctor and cultural activist best known for creating Tolong Siki (1989), the dedicated script for the Kurukh language. Despite facing discrimination during his medical studies at Darbhanga Medical College, he worked tirelessly—drawing on community feedback, cultural symbols, and phonetic rules—to design an authentic writing system reflecting Kurukh speech.

Recognition & Impact:

• Tolong Siki was released in 1999 and officially recognised by the Jharkhand government in 2003.
• Today, it is used in schools like Loordippa Kurukh School (Gumla), where it serves as the medium of instruction.

Significance:
Dr. Oraon believes that preserving one’s mother tongue through its own script is central to cultural identity. His contribution is a cornerstone of the Adivasi movement for linguistic and cultural recognition.