Charan Hembram
A Santali teacher from Mayurbhanj who helped set up nearly 2,000 Ol Chiki schools across Odisha, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
Charan Hembram has spent his life teaching Santali in its own script, Ol Chiki. In 2026 he was named for the Padma Shri in the field of literature and education, from Odisha [1].
Early years
Hembram was born on 9 February 1952 in Nungan village near Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district, into the Santal community [2]. After finishing school in 1971 he devoted himself to Ol Chiki education, and trained as a teacher in 1977 [2].
Building a school network
From 1992 to 2004 he was secretary of the Board of Santali Education in Odisha, based in Rairangpur [2]. In those years the state posted its first 30 Ol Chiki teachers, a new building was opened for the board, and its printing press was revived [2]. He helped found and affiliate 1,973 Ol Itun Asras (Ol Chiki schools) across Odisha [2], and supported the Ol Chiki Students’ Union [2].
Writer and composer
Hembram has written Santali books, articles and songs for Santali music albums, and has founded and directed Santali opera and drama groups since the 1980s [2]. He won best Adivasi drama director in 1978 and best music director in 1997 [2]. In 2004 he received the Guru Gomke Pandit Raghunath Murmu Fellowship [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2026: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony brochure: citation for Charan Hembram — Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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