UPSC – Santhali Syllabus

PAPER I 

(Answers must be written in Santhali) 

Section A 

Part I—History of Santhali Language 

1. Main Austric Language family, population and distribution. 
2. Grammatical structure of Santhali Language. 
3. Important character of Santhali Language: Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Translation,  Lexicography. 
4. Impact of other languages of Santhali. 
5. Standardization of Santhali Language. 

Part II—History of Santhali Literature 

1. Literary trend of the following four periods of history of Santhali Literature. 

(a) Ancient Literature before 1854. 

(b) Missionary period Literature between 1855 to 1889 AD. 

(c) Medieval period: Literature between 1890 to 1946 AD. 

(d) Modern period : Literature from 1947 AD to till date. 

2. Writing tradition in History of Santhali literature. 

Section-B 

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

Part I 

Folk Literature in Santhali—folk song, folk tale, phrase, idioms puzzles, and Kudum.

Part II 

Modern literature in Santhali 

1. Development of poetry and prominent poets. 
2. Development of prose and prominent writers.

(i) Novels and prominent Novelists. 

(ii) Stories and prominent story writers. 

(iii) Drama and Prominent Dramatist. 

(iv) Criticism and prominent critics. 

(v) Essay, sketches, memoirs, travelogues and prominent writers. 

Santhali writers 

Shyam Sundar Hembram, Pandit Raghunath Murmu, Barha Beshra, Sadhu Ramchand Murmu,  Narayan Soren ‘Toresutam’, Sarda Prasad Kisku, Raghunath Tudu, Kalipada Soren, Sakla Soren,  Digamber Hansda, Aditya Mitra ‘Santhali’, 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 Santhali tradition, customs, festival and rituals (birth, marriage and death).

PAPER II 

(Answers must be written in Santhali) 

Section A 

This paper will require in-depth reading of the following texts and the questions will be designed to test  the candidates’ critical ability. 

Ancient Literature : 

Prose 

(a) Kherwal Bonso Dhorom Puthi—Majhi Ramdas Tudu “Rasika”. 

(b) Mare Hapramko Reyak Katha—L.O. Scrafsrud. 

(c) Jomsim Binti Lita—Mangal Chandra Turkulumang Soren. 

(d) Marang Buru Binti—Kanailal Tudu. 

Poetry 

(a) Karam Sereng—Nunku Soren. 

(b) Devi Dasain Sereng—Manindra Hansda. 

(c) Horh Sereng—W.G. Archer. 

(d) Baha Sereng—Balaram Tudu. 

(e) Dong Sereng—Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu ‘Thakur’. 

(f) Hor Sereng—Raghunath Murmu. 

(g) Soros Sereng—Babulal Murmu “Adivasi”. 

(h) More Sin More Ndia—Rup Chand Hansda. 

(i) Judasi Madwa Latar—Tez Narayan Murmu. 

Section B

Modern Literature 

Part I—Poetry 

(a) Onorhen Baha Dhalwak—Paul Jujhar Soren. 

(b) Asar Binti—Narayan Soren “Tore Sutam”. 

(c) Chand Mala—Gora Chand Tudu. 

(d) Onto Baha Mala—Aditya Mitra “Santhali”. 

(e) Tiryo Tetang—Hari Har Hansda. 

(f) Sisirjon Rar—Thakur Prasad Murmu. 

Part II—Novels 

(a) Harmawak Ato—R.Karstiars (Translator—R.K. Kisku Rapaz). 

(b) Manu Mati—Chandra Mohan Hansda. 

(c) Ato Orak—Doman Hansdak. 

(d) Ojoy Gada Dhiph re—Nathenial Murmu. 

Part III—Stories 

(a) Jiyon Gada—Rup Chand Hansda and Jadumani Beshra. 

(b) Mayajaal—Doman Sahu ‘Samir’ and Padmashri Bhagwat Murmu ‘Thakur’. 

Part IV—Drama 

(a) Kherwar Bir—Pandit Raghunath Murmu. 

(b) Juri Khatir—Dr. K.C. Tudu. 

(c) Birsa Bir—Ravi Lal Tudu. 

Part V—Biography 

Santal Ko Ren Mayam Gohako—Dr. Biswanath Hansda.