PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Jan 27: After Ho Kudi (meaning Ho Girl), a novel on tribal language Ho written by Padma Shri nominee Janum Singh Soy which received widespread appreciation, the former Kolhan University professor is working on a couple of other novels on that tribal language.
Talking to this portal, an elated Soy said his second novel on Ho language will soon hit the stands. He, however did not disclose the name of the novel.
The 72- year old former HoD- Hindi of Kolhan University gained overnight popularity when as a mark of appreciation for his work towards preserving and promoting his mother tongue Ho language, the Union government on on the eve of Republic Day announced Professor Janum Singh Soy’s name for the coveted Padma Shri award.
Ever since that his cell phones kept on ringing and congratulatory messages poured in.
Moreso, this Ghatshila resident is visited by his well – wishers and local people’s representatives.
“I am happy to be nominated for the prestigious award which will be given away later. I had applied for the award in the year 2021,” said Soy.
The local felicitations had also begun. Today he was felicitated at the Ghatshila College where he had started his career under the then Ranchi University on July 1, 1977.
Later, he was transferred to Chaibasa with the formation of Kolhan University in 2010.
Soy, who has one son and two daughters, originally hails from Gitillongor village in neighbouring West Singhbhum district.
He currently stays in Ghatshila behind JC High School where he has made his own house.
Soy said lots need to be done on the part of the government as well as society to preserve the regional languages of different tribal groups.
Soy who has in his name five publications of Ho language poems said that the award would bring back focus on preservation of the tribal Ho language.
Ho language is spoken among the Ho tribe, which largely inhabits in the Singhbhum area of Jharkhand which is also known as Kolhan.
Ho language is also spoken by tribals residing in neighbouring Odisha and Bengal.
Notably, the tribal language research department in Kolhan University does not have a full time head of department of Ho language. There is one professor while the rest are on contract. Soy stressed that all such vacancies should be filled.
He added that there should be regular language teachers in schools as well.
The Padma Shri nominee has helped make Ho as a language for studies in universities and his work is a part of PG curriculum.
He retired from Kolhan University after an illustrious career in 2012.
His wife Hira Devi is a former teacher of a government school. Soy’s eldest son Jai Singh too is a teacher of a government school at Majhgaon block in West Singhhum.
One of his daughter’s Manisha Soy is posted at the regional office of Food Corporation of India in Patna while the other daughter Madhurima works with Reliance Retail in Hyderabad.
