Sadri Language

Sadri Language

Sadri, also known as Nagpuri, is a branch of the Prakrit language, and is regarded as a sister language of Oriya, Bengali and Maithili. It is spoken in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and the north of West Bengal, and in Bangladesh.

Speakers of Sadri also use Hindi, Oriya, and Bengali. The population includes 1,381,000 Sadani, 574,000 Nagpuri, and 165,683 Oraon (as of 1997). It is also spoken by the Chero tribe as first language. Sadri has become a lingua franca of Jharkhandi society. Besides speaking their own mother tongue Oraon, the members of the Munda and Kharia communities speak in Sadri with each other in many parts of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, North Bengal, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar, and in other parts of India where the Jharkhandi community resides.

There are many variations of Sadri. The residents of Biru region (a former princely state) in Simdega district of Jharkhand speak it as their first language, although they also have their own language. Even Oraon, Munda and Kharia of Orissa speak it as their first language. Although standardization of Sadri is still to be done, much literature has been written in the language. Many Sadri magazines were published in various parts of India. Gharaiya Guith, a monthly magazine in Sadri, is published in Shillong. Johar Sahiya is currently published in Ranchi. Veer Birsa, Aguwa, Nawa Parha, and Adivasi Express were published in the Dooars and Tarai regions of West Bengal. A few feature films have also been produced in the Sadri language in Assam, Dooars, Jharkhand and in Orissa. Since 1980, many Sadri songs and videos have been produced.

A variation of Sadri is Nagpuri, which is being taught at Ranchi University and other universities of Jharkhand.

Alternate names and/or names of dialects include: Sadani, Sadana, Sadati, Sadari, Sadhan, Sadna, Sadrik, Santri, Siddri, Sradri, Sadhari, Sadan, Nagpuria, Nagpuri, Chota Nagpuri, Dikku Kaji, Gawari, Ganwari, Goari, Gauuari, Jharkhandhi.