Singhbhumi Odia

Singhbhumi Odia ^[1] is the northernmost dialect of the Odia language spoken in the districts of Seraikella-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum and parts of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

Almost all native Odia speakers of Jharkhand except for those living in the parts of East Singhbhum district bordering West Bengal speak in this dialect. The historic Singhbhum region comprises the western parts of Seraikella-Kharsawan district and whole of West Singhbhum district. Singhbhumi Odia is used as subsidiary language by host of non Odia people like Kurmis living in Singhbhum region and parts of neighboring Dhalbhum region. Apart from the native Odia households Singhbhumi Odia is spoken as a common language in the old township of Chakradharpur, Seraikella and Kharsawan. Historically Odia was the court language in the ancient kingdom of Porahat (Chakradharpur) apart from princely states of Seraikella and Kharsawan^[2]

Singhbhumi Odia ^[3] is distinct among the major dialects of Odia as it is spoken in a region completely outside of modern-day Odisha. The vocabulary used by the native speaker has lots of borrowings from his Kurmi neighbor and Sambalpuri dialect of Western Odisha as well as the local dialects of Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts of Odisha.

The native Odia people of Singhbhum have preserved their unique identity since centuries by communicating in the local Odia dialect. Their customs, traditions, festivals and ceremonies get life from their native dialect. Singhbhumi Odia is also the language of world famous dance of Seraikella Chhau and its sister form from Kharsawan. Chhau masters use typical Singhbhumi terms to explain technicalities of the ancient dance form to their disciples. Some of the typical Singhbhumi terms used by Chhau practitioners are Uflis, Chalis, Topkas and Khel. Chalis are mimicking of the gaits of various animals and mythological characters like Bagha Chali-gait of tiger, Ghora Chali-gait of horse and Radha Chali-gait of Radha. Similarly Uflis are mimicking of various daily chores like Gobara Gula-mixing of cow dung paste and Pithau Bata-Grinding of batter for Pithas to name a few. Adding further to the list Naachpali is another typical term used to describe the finishing of a Chhau dance performance when the dance move become fast paced. Ancient style of songs called Jhumur-peculiar to Chhotanagpur plateau and neighboring areas also got enriched by native Odia poets. Notable among them is Prafulla Singhdeo from Raidih in Kharsawan who has composed and sung Jhumur in Singhbhumi Odia and played important role in popularizing the art form.

Here are some Singhbhumi Odia equivalents of Standard Odia.

References