The Kurmi community, which largely resides in the Jangalmahal region, has long been demanding recognition and preservation of its language and culture. For years, members of the community have also been seeking inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Ahead of the Assembly elections, Vidyasagar University has taken an initiative to introduce undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Kurmali, the language spoken by the Kurmi community, in 18 affiliated colleges across Jhargram and West Midnapore.

Guidelines regarding the initiative were issued on March 5 by the university’s college inspector, Abhijit Raychowdhury. According to the announcement, colleges including Belda College, Chandrakona Vidyasagar Mahavidyalaya, Garbeta College, Government General Degree College Gopiballabhpur-2, Government General Degree College Lalgarh, Government General Degree College Shalbani, Jhargram Raj College, Rani Indradevi Girls College, Seba Bharati Mahavidyalaya and Subarnarekha Mahavidyalaya will begin undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Kurmali from the 2026–27 academic year.

Debnarayan Roy, principal of Jhargram Raj College, said that the necessary steps for introducing Kurmali teaching will be examined before reporting to the higher education department. “What steps need to be taken for teaching in the Kurmali language will be examined and reported to the higher education department,” he said.

ALSO READ | Digha, Mandarmani adventure rides restricted to five designated zones for safety

Earlier, on February 25, Jangalmahal Swaraj Morcha had emailed the university authorities demanding the introduction of Kurmali studies at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Ashok Mahato, president of the organisation’s central committee, welcomed the decision and said it acknowledged the community’s long-standing demand.

“People of the Kurmi community in Jangalmahal are accustomed to speaking in their mother tongue Kurmali. The demand for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Kurmali was made to preserve the development, tradition and history of this language. I thank the university authorities for taking this initiative quickly. This will arrange employment opportunities for young men and women alongside the practice of the Kurmali language,” he said.

ALSO READ | Garland offered to Tilka Majhi’s statue, Birsa Munda slogans raised: BJP faces discomfort in Keshpur

Currently, postgraduate courses in Kurmali are available only at Sidhu Kanu Birsa University in Purulia and Sadhu Ramchandra Murmu University in Jhargram. At Sadhu Ramchandra Murmu University, postgraduate studies in Kurmali, along with a one-year diploma in Kurmali language and culture and a diploma in Jhumur song and dance, are offered.

Rahul Mahato, who will complete his postgraduate studies in Kurmali from Sadhu Ramchandra Murmu University in 2025, described the move as encouraging but emphasised the need for further academic opportunities. “The step taken by Vidyasagar University authorities is commendable. However, initiatives should be taken to teach PhD alongside undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I have done a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) for PhD studies in 2025. But due to the lack of PhD opportunities in Kurmali, I am sitting at home,” he said.