Charan Hembram Age, Wife, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Charan Hembram

• Charan Hembram grew up in an environment where the Santali language, community traditions, music, dance, and oral storytelling were a part of his daily life.

• He completed his matriculation in 1971.

• He then received teacher training under the All India Adivasi Socio Educational and Cultural Association (ASECA), Rairangpur, Odisha, in 1977.

• He then enrolled in different professional and development training programmes, including training connected with teaching, development communication, and grassroots awareness.

• Charan Hembram began working in Santali education when tribal children in many places did not have enough opportunities to learn through their own language.

• He became closely involved with Ol Chiki, the script created for Santali by Pandit Raghunath Murmu. His work focused on helping children and young people learn Santali through this script.

• He later became an organiser of the Santali education movement in Odisha.

• In 1992, Charan Hembram became the Secretary of the Board of Santali Education, Odisha, under ASECA (O), Rairangpur. He held this position until 2004.

• During this period, the Government of Odisha appointed 30 Ol Chiki teachers in 1992.

• In 1994, the ASECA building was inaugurated to improve administrative and physical facilities.

• After that, the SEMLED press was reopened during this program.

• Charan Hembram then formed the Ol Chiki Students’ Union to bring students together and encourage them to take an active interest in their language and education.

• During this period, he also attended national literary seminars, tribal-language discussions, and cultural programmes organised by many organisational institutions, such as the Sahitya Akademi.

• From 1992 to 2004, he established and affiliated 1,973 Ol Itun Asras across Odisha. The word Ol Itun Asra means a place for learning the Santali language and script.
  

  Charan Hembram during a teaching session at a school

• The names of these learning institutions includes Biduchandan Ol Itun Asra, Kusumi Sido Kanhu Ol Itun Asra, Neuti J.J.M. Ol Itun Asra in Mahisaneda (1991), Ol Itun Asra in Digiripahi (2001).

• Charan Hembram also worked many years for Santali theatre and folk culture.

• He has established and directed many Santal Akhras and opera groups, such as Marshal Opera (established in 1988), Ural Usara Marshal Madwa (established in 1989), and J.J.M. Opera Party (established in 1992).

• As a writer, he wrote many books in Santali using Ol Chiki. He has also contributed various articles to government publications and literary journals.

• Some of his books are Sereng Sandhayani, Bhanj Mili (1949), and Sirij Renang Sari Partal.

• He has also composed many songs for Santali audio albums.

• Charan Hembram has played an important role in promoting tribal arts and in encouraging women to take part in indigenous dance traditions to protect cultural identity.

• In 2004, he received the Guru Gomkey Pandit Raghunath Murmu Fellowship.

• He was called Santali Sanskritik Guru in 2006.

• In 2009, he was known for being a Santali Music Guru.

• Charan Hembram was recognised as a Santal Poet in 2012 and Chiki Hulgaria in 2015.

• In 2017, he was honoured with the Prakruti Bandhu award for his contribution to the nature and environmental work.

• In 2018, during the 143rd birth anniversary of Bir Birsa Munda, he was honoured for his social and cultural work.

• In January 2026, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in the field of Literature and Education.
  

  Charan Hembram while receiving Padma Shri

• Due to his interest in drama and sports, he formed a football team to encourage tribal women to take part in sports.

• Charan Hembram also set up a drama stage. He regularly participates in various programmes and seminars organised by the Central Sahitya Akademi on dance, music, and literature.