Mon Apr 21 21:22:00 UTC 2025: ## Calcutta Scholars Race to Preserve Endangered Tribal Language Through Novel Translation
**Kolkata, April 22, 2025** – A team of Calcutta University scholars embarked on a challenging expedition to the remote Sundarbans region to preserve the endangered Sadri language. Their mission: to translate “Baman Burir Char” (“Dwarf Old Lady’s Char”), a novel written in Sadri by local author Dayalhari Sardar.
The novel, which depicts life in the Sunderbans’ char lands, focusing on themes of river erosion, land loss, and community vulnerability, is considered crucial to preserving the Sadri language and culture. While there are an estimated 741,528 Sadri speakers in West Bengal according to the 2011 census, primarily among tea plantation workers, a smaller community in the Sundarbans uses the language. The language itself lacks a standardized script; speakers in West Bengal use the Bengali script, while those in Chhattisgarh use Devnagari.
The scholars’ journey to the village of Kamarpara involved train travel, autorickshaw rides, and a boat crossing, highlighting the geographical isolation of the community and their limited access to essential services. The team spent time with the Sadri community to understand the novel’s cultural context.
Professor Mrinmoy Pramanick, who led the team, emphasized the importance of the project, stating that translating the novel into English will introduce the Sadri world to a global audience, fostering cultural identity and educational opportunities. The initiative is seen as a continuation of previous efforts, including a 2022 workshop focused on translating works from the Sundarbans. The team believes Sardar, by writing the novel, is himself playing a vital role in preserving his language and heritage.
First Piper 