India is a country of unity in diversity with a confluence of multicultural languages and traditions. Among various scheduled tribes, Koda Adivasi is one. This tribe is a part of Mundari of Austrik language. The language of Koda Adivasi is ‘Koda Jagar’ and the written form of the Koda Language is known as ‘Nagchiki’ in their society. The founder of this language is Shree Dinesh Mudi( Mahukal Sapu Koda). Smt. Hasi Mudi, uncle Shree Naren Singh and grandfather Shree Hemal Mudi inspired Shree Dinesh Mudi to create and form letters of Koda Language. His wife Smt. Anima Mudi, brother Shree Chandramohon Singh ( Mastermosai), brother Shree Jisai Singh ( social activist) contributed to further explaining the letters of Koda Language. Besides, his brother Shree Sadhu Singh designed a software of this language. The author started writing Nagchiki in 2005 and the full form of this language as Adivasi Koda got published by him in 2012.
Mythical story of Nagchiki
In the mythical story of Koda Adivasi, king Samat Raghu Mudi or Koda old men and women left their only baby under a tree while digging in the fields with spade. The King, to get rid of the Hoons and also to save the baby, left it under the shadow of the trees and as the sunrays moved its directions from over the baby , the Panchanag raised its hood to give shadows and protection to the baby. Right after this , beside the sleeping baby, Munda old men and women came across the river to hunt or to collect woods ; afterwards the Mundas arranged to name the baby. Beside this story, another story goes like this that the orders were given by the Hoons to kill the Adivasi young boys. During this time in the Koda society , festivals of worship were performed in Chotanpur Sinbhum. More is heard that the Hoons came out for mass killing of the Koda youths with spears. More stories exist such as there were fights between the Koda and the Hoons with sharp weapons like spear, bow, arrows etc. At last the Kodas were defeated. The King Raghu along with his sister left Chotonagpur across the river. According to seaman Munda, the Koda Adivasi changed their titles from Koda and Mudi into Sing and they started living in the Munda community to save their lives from the attacks of Hoons. This is the brief story of social and mythical history and the mentions of Naga King Panchanag, trees, sun, road,bows, arrows, spade, dagger, social customs, worshipping festivals, marriagesm fruits, birth and death etc. are part of community history. From these spectacular depictions of the Koda Adivasi, the form and matter of Chiki and finally its titling is justified.
The Explaination of the name Chiki and its acknowledgement
Nag:- Nag refers to KORA caste belonging to the heritance of Nagabonshi and Adivasi Koda is for theancestors living in the native places i.e. Chtonagpur as is evident by the word ‘Nag’.
Chiki:- Chiki refers to letter or word. The sign of the Kada language is the initial pronunciation = ‘chi’ and ‘Kinha’( in Bengali it means the meaning). It is constructed by placing the initial word of the language.
Nagbonshi Nagchatra Kada Ra-ya "Nag-chiki"
Marang tihi Ra-ya Chiki
o a i
u. e. o
ar. ek. ug
ey ad anch
aja. ut. ang
at. ad. and
Ul. up. ub
ah. an. am
an. as. aow
mu-daram. Farcha. Ah
Lekha:
1 (one)mid. 2(two)bar. 3(three)api
4 (four)upoon. 5( five) more 6(six) turui
7(ya) ya. 8(eight) iral. 9(nine) are
Z(zero) bucha. 10(ten) gele
Nagbonsi Kada Raya Nag-chiki
Marang Chiki
o a i
u. e. o
aow. ek. ug
anch. oj. aing
at. Of. en
to. do. ap
ub. em. or
el. es. oh
rh. ey. ang
ah. mu-daram farcha
lekha:
1(one)=mit. 2(two)=bar 3(three)=api
4(four)=upun. 5(five)=more. 6(six)=turui
7(seven)=eya. 8(eight)=iral. 9(nine)=are
0(zero)=bucha. 10(ten)=gele
Nagbonshi Kada Raya Nag-chiki
Hudaing chiki
o. a. I
u. e. o
aow. ek. ug
anch. Oj aing
at. od. en
ut. Ad. ap
ub. em. or
ul. es. oh
arh. eya. ang
ah. Mu-daram Farcha
Lekha:
1(one)= mit. 2(two) bar. 3(three)api 4( upun). 5( five)mare.
6(six) turui 7( seven) iya. 8(eight) iral. 9( nine)=are 0(zero) bucha.
10( ten) gele
Nagbonshi Nagchatra Kada Raya Nag-chiki Chiki
Marang tihi Ra-ya Chiki
O. a. I
U. e. o
or. ek. ug
Ey. ad. anch
oj. ut. ang
at. Od. ad
ul. ap. ub
Oh. en. em
ang. es. aow
mu-daram. farcha ah
Lekha:
1(one) = mid. 2(two) = bar 3(three) = api 4(four) = upun. 5(five) = mare. 6(six) = turui 7(seven) = iya. 8(eight) = iral. 9(nine) are 0( zero) = bucha 10(ten) = gele
Acknowledgement of Nag Chiki
The name "Nag Chiki" got acknowledgement in 2015 after many debates held in the discussion at Ranisay and Shibdanga by the core committee of Adivasi Kora Samaj Kalyan Sanghathan. The copyright of Nag Chiki alphabet: Reg no . L-77751/2018.
Date and Place of Exhibition of Nag Chiki
1. Village-Bejda, Block- Dantan, Paschim Medinipore Ganpada Mission(26.12.12)
2. Village- Kanpur Sammelan, Paschim Medinipore (27.01.2015)
3. The written alphabet was exhibited throgh the banner at Lalbajar Burdwan.
(02.02.2016)
4. The meeting of the core committee of Ranisay Rajya Committee (25/26.07.2015)
at Burdwan Rajendranath Vidyapith
5. Convocation of first draft at Shibdanga,Jamuria(21/11/2015)
6. Village-Gabra, Paschim Medinipore (26/01/2016)
7. Shyampura, Paschim Medinipore Zilla Assembly (20/03/2016)
8. Jagannathpur,Kharagpur, Paschim Medinipore (2016)
9. Fair at Dantan, Paschim Medinipore (2017)
10. Pune, Maharashtra Asia Plato(2017)
11. Ganpada Mission,Dantan, Paschim Medinipore (2018)
12. Sambad,Jharkhand(2018)
13 State Conference at Shibdanga (21/02/2019)
Features of Nag Chiki
1. Total no.of alphabets in Nag Chiki is 30.There are 6 vowels and 22 consonants.There is one alphabet called "Latha Mu Daram." One alphabet that helps to write two words is called " Farcha".
2. There is lingual and physical description of numbers from 1-100 in table.Numbers are written from left to right.
3. There are two types of writing style in Nag Chiki- Capital and Small.
4. Nag Chiki alphabets have been formed from the mythical stories of Kora Adivasi Community.
5. The shape and name of alphabets have come from daily used materials in the life of Kora -the sharp part of arrow,one type of axe, road, fan made of palm leaves, scythe, fishing hook, spade, handle of umbrella, nose ring of girls, germinated tree of nature, mushroom, betel leaves, fruit,moon,sun, earth, bird, snake, grasshopper and nose ,ear from human body.
6. There is no conjunctive in Nag Chiki.
7. In case of writing spelling or word there is an amalgamation of Devnagri, English and Nag Chiki rules and there is written grammar in Nag Chiki.
8. There is a style of writing small letters in Nag Chiki- a stroke from up to down.
Publicity of Koda language through Nagchiki
Kodas started writing in Nagchiki in 2005 and completed in 2012 and since then Nag Chiki letters and script were being displayed in meetings of Koda society. The only means to keep our language alive is to visit many villages and spread the message of importance of this Nagchiki. Many scholars and village heads advise me to find simple ways to learn Koda language along with Nag chiki so that they learn Nagchiki grammar and the usages of each letter. He took initiatives from people of all walks of life and began writing “Adivasi Koda Language”. Finally, after an untiring effort of one and a half years, with the sincere help of Shree Sadhu Sing , the 152 page book “Adivasi Koda Language” was completed and the Mission of keeping Koda Language alive with the help of Nagchiki is being accomplished.