Nagpuri
Sadri
Sadani
Native to
India
Region
West Central Chota Nagpur (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar)
Ethnicity
Native speakers
L1: 5.1 million (2011 census)[1][2][3][4]
L2: 7.0 million (2007)[4]
Devanagari
Kaithi (historical)
Official status
Official language in
Language codes
Either:sck – Sadrisdr – Oraon Sadri
Nagpuri (also known as Sadri) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar. It is primarily spoken in the west and central Chota Nagpur plateau region.[2][7][8] It is sometimes considered a dialect of Bhojpuri.[9][10][11]
It is the native language of the Sadan, the Indo-Aryan ethnic group of Chota Nagpur plateau.[8] In addition to native speakers, it is also used as a lingua franca by many tribal groups such as the Kurukh, a Dravidian ethnic group, and the Kharia, Munda, and Austro-asiatic ethnic groups. A number of speakers from these tribal groups have adopted it as their first language.[8] It is also used as a lingua franca among the Tea-garden communityofAssam, West Bengal and Bangladesh who were taken as labourers to work in the tea gardens during the British Period.[8] It is known as Baganiya bhasa in the tea garden area of Assam which is influenced by the Assamese language.[12] According to the 2011 Census, it is spoken by 5.1 million people as a first language. Around 7 million speak it as their second language based on a study from 2007.[2]
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.[13][14] 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 NagpurofMaharashtra.[15] 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.[8]
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.[14][16][17]
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.[18][19][20]
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.[21] 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.[7]
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".
Nagpuri has been placed in the Bihari group of Indo-Aryan languages.[8][22] Recent studies demonstrate that the Indo-Aryan languages of the Chota Nagpur plateau, called Sadani languages, are distinct languages and are more closely related to each other than any other languages.[13]
Distribution of Nagpuri language in the state of India (2011 census)[23]
The Nagpuri language is mainly spoken in the western Chota Nagpur Plateau region. The geographical distribution of language is tabulated below;
State
District
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.[3]
(ɳ)
Oral vowel sounds
Nasal vowel sounds
Diphthongs
ʊi̯
ɛi̯, ɛʊ̯
[əɪ̯]
ʌɛ̯, ʌ̃ɛ̯̃, ʌi̯, ʌʊ̯
ɔɛ̯, ɔ̃ɛ̯̃, ɔi̯, ɔ̃ĩ̯
aɛ̯, ãɛ̯̃, aɪ̯, aʊ̯, ãʊ̯̃
There are similarities between the words of Nagpuri, Hindi, Apabhramsha, Prakrit and Sanskrit which are given in the table below.[7]
Nagpuri
Hindi
Apabrahmsha
Prakrit
Sanskrit
English
Pachhe
Peechhe
Picchhu
Pachha
Pashcha
Behind
Beyir
Surya
Beri
Rabi
Ravi
Sun
Sapna
Sapna
Supan
Suvan
Swapna
Dream
Dharam
Dharm
Dham
Dhamm
Dharma
Religion
Aayinkh
Aankh
Aankhi
Akiv
Akshi
Eyes
Didh
Drudh
Didh
Didh
Dhairya
Courage
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.[7]
Nagpuri
Hindi
English
Gelon
gaya
went
Sutlon
soya
slept
Peelon
piya
drank
Khalon
khaya
ate
Jathon
Ja raha hoon
I am going
Sutothon
so raha hoon
I am sleeping.
Piyothon
Pee raha hoon
I am drinking.
Khathon
Kha raha hoon
I am eating
Jamu
jaoonga
I will go.
Sutmu
soounga
I will sleep
Pimu
Piyunga
I will drink.
Khamu
Khaoonga
I will eat.
Below are some words about relationships in Nagpuri in the table.[7]
Nagpuri
Hindi
English
Mae, Aayo
Ma
Mother
Baap, Abba
Pita
Father
Badi
Pardadi
Great grandmother
Kaka
Kaka
Father's younger brother
Didi
Didi
Elder sister
Bhai
Bhai
Brother
Bahin
Bahen
sister
Puth
Putra
Son
Nani
Nani
Maternal grandmother
Jani
Mahila
woman
Sayis
Saas
Mother- in - law
Sangat/Yaar
brother of sister-in-law and brother-in-law
Sangatin
sister of sister-in-law and brother-in-law
Below are some words of daily use in Nagpuri, Hindi and English in the table.[7]
Nagpuri
Hindi
English
Charka
Sweth
White
Gola
Bhura
Brown
Peeyar
Peela
Yellow
Laal
Laal
Red
Leel
Neela
Blue
Aayij
Aaj
Today
Aekhane
Abhi
Now
Sagar din
Sara din
Whole night
Adhberiya
Dopahar
Afternoon
Sanjh
Sam
Evening
Thanv
Sthan
Place
Pokhra
Pokhar
Pond
Pethiya
Bazar
Market
Pahad
Pahad
Mountain
Nadi
Nadi
River
Masna
Masan/Samsaan
Graveyard
Jaad
Jaada
Winter
Barkha
Barsa
Rainy season
Rait
Raat
Night
Paala
Paala
Snow
English
Nagpuri
Nagpuri (Devanagari)
What is your name?
Tor naam ka heke?
तोर नाम का हेके ?
How are you ?
Toen kaisan aahis?
तोयं कसैन आहीस्?
I am fine.
Moen thik aahon
मोएं ठीक आहों।
What?
Ka?
का?
Who?
Ke?
के?
Why?
Kale?
काले?
How?
Kaisan?
कसैन?
Which?
Kon?
कोन?
Come here.
Hian aao
हीयां आओ
I am going to home.
Moen ghar jat hon
मोएं घर जात हों।
I have eaten.
Moen kha hon
मोएं खा हों।
I will go.
Moen Jamu
मोएं जामु।
We go.
Hame jaeil
हामे जाइल।
You go.
Toen jais
तोयं जाइस्।
You are writing.
Toen likhathis
तोयं लिखतहिस्।
You will come.
Toen aabe
तोयं आबे।
We are writing.
Hame likhathi
हामे लीखतही।
We have written.
Hame likh hi
हामे लीख ही।
He/She come.
Oo aawela
उ आवेला।
He/She is going.
Oo jat he
उ जात हे।
He/She was coming.
Oo aawat rahe
उ आवत रहे।
He/She will play.
Oo kheli
उ खेली।
They have eaten bread.
Ooman roti kha haen
उमन रोटी खा हयं।
They went.
Ooman gelaen
उमन गेलयं।
They will go home.
Ooman ghar jabaen
उमन घर जाबयं।
The Nagpuri language spoken in different districts such as Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega and Garhwa varies with each other.[13]
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 9th 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.[25] Inscriptions of the modern period are in Devnagari script. Nagpuri poetry has been written in Devnagari and Kaithi script during the 17th century.[26] At present, mainly Devnagari script is used in literature.[7]
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 and the King of Ramgarh, Dalel Singh, were poets. These poems were composed in Devnagari script and Kaithi script.[26][27] Some Nagpuri peots were Hanuman Singh, Jaigovind Mishra, Barju Ram Pathak, Ghasi Ram Mahli, Das Mahli, Mahant Ghasi and Kanchan.[28] "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.[29] 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.[30] 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.[21]
Monthly Nagpuri magazines Gotiya and Johar Sahiya have been published in Ranchi.[31][32] Several magazines have also been published in Assam, West Bengal's Tarai and Dooars districts.[33][3]
Some poets, writers and their works in the nagpuri language are as follows:[30]
Author
Work
first known poet in the Nagpuri language, mostly composed devotional poetry on Krishna
Beniram Mahata
Nagvanshavali (1876)
Nagpuri Fag Satak, Lalana Ranjana, Durga Saptasati, Nagvanshavali Jhumar
Kanchan
Sudama Charitra, Krishna Charitra, Mahabharat, Lanka Kand, Usha Haran
Drugpal Ram Deogharia
Nal Charita, Korambe Upakhyan
Dhaniram Bakshi
Jitiya Kahani, Fogli budhia kar Kahani, Narad Moh Lila, Karam Mahatmay, Sri Krishna Charit
E.H Whitley
Notes on Ganwari dialects of Lohardaga, Chotanagpur (grammar), 1896
Konrad Bookout
Grammar of the Nagpuria Sadani language
Son Jhair (collection of stories), 1967
Mewar Keshri, Amba Manjar
Nerua Lota urf Sanskritit Abdharna (nibandh), Thakur Vishwanath Sahi, Kanti
Nagpuri Vyakran, Seva aur Nokri, Teteir Kar Chhaon, Du Dair Bis Phool
Mahabali Radhe Kar Balidan, Akhra Nindaye Gelak
Naimuddin Mirdaha
Menjur Painkh
Baraik Iswari Prasad Singh
Kaka kar Kahani
Kali Kumar Suman
Khukhri Rugda
Nagpuri Sadani Vyakaran, Sadani Nagpuri-Hindi Sabdkosh, Sato Nadi Par
Nagpuri taught at some high schools as a subject in Jharkhand.[34] 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.[35][36]
Historically, Nagpuri was the lingua-franca in the region. It was the court language during the reign of the Nagvanshi dynasty.[26] Nagpuri is accorded as an additional official language in the Indian state of Jharkhand.[5][6] There is demand to include Nagpuri in the Eighth schedule.[37][38][39] 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.[40]
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Shina
Pashayi
Kunar
Chitral
Hazara Division
Central
Northwestern
Western
Others
Eastern
Others
Magahi
Maithili
Sadanic
Tharuic
Others
Kamarupic
Chittagonian
Odia
Southern
Konkanic
Insular
Old
Middle (Prakrit)
Late (Apabhraṃśa)
Proto-
languages
Unclassified
Pidgins
and creoles
Official language
Indo-European
Sino-Tibetan
Austroasiatic
Dravidian
Afro-Asiatic
Sign
State-level only
