Dhaniram Toto
A writer from the small Toto tribe of north Bengal who created a script for the endangered Toto language, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
Dhaniram Toto is a writer and government social worker from the Toto community, one of India’s smallest tribes, who has worked to save his people’s endangered language. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of literature and education, from West Bengal [1].
Growing up in Totopara
He was born on 11 June 1964 and went to Totopara Primary School, later passing his matriculation from Rampur Singimari Higher Secondary School [2]. In 1991 he joined the state’s welfare department for Scheduled Castes and Tribes as a social worker, and he still works there [2].
Writing the Toto language
His writing records Toto folk culture, tales and songs, and he has also written poems and novels in Bengali [2]. His central project has been a script for the Toto language, and he finished his work on a Toto alphabet in 2018 [2]. On 23 January 1993 he represented the Toto tribe in Delhi at the invitation of the President and the Prime Minister [2].
Recognition
The West Bengal government honoured him with a copper plaque in 1997 [2]. He has also received a literary prize in 2021 for his novel Dhanua Totor Kothamala and the Dooars Ratna in 2019 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2023: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2023: citation for Dhaniram Toto — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
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