S. P. Mangai Gomango
Inventor of the Sora Sompeng Script
S. P. Mangai Gomango
Date of Birth: 16 June 1916
Education: Form IV (1935)
Family: One son and two daughters.
Activities
S. P. Mangai Gomango took a keen interest in research work for the upliftment of Adivasi communities. After long and strenuous efforts, he developed a script for the Savara (Sora) language. He devoted himself to promoting and spreading literacy in the Savara language through this indigenous writing system.
Address: Morehinda, Padmapur, Gunupur Taluk.
Historical references to S. P. Mangai Gomango include entries in industrial and commercial directories published in Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, during 1954–55.
Adivasi Script Invented by S. P. Mangai
Savara Language and Adivasi Script
The indigenous script for the Savara language was invented by S. P. Mangai Gomango.
Publications relating to the script were issued by:
Matharvanam Vigyana Prachar Ashram
Marichaguda, Odisha
The work received financial support and approval from the Central Government of India, New Delhi.
S. P. Mangai Gomango was honoured with an award by the Odisha Sahitya Akademi on 30 March 1969.
The Savara People and Their Language
The Savara-speaking people primarily live in the hilly regions of the Eastern Ghats, particularly in the Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Speakers of the Savara language also live in the hilly areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
In Odisha, Savara communities are found in the districts of:
- Koraput
- Kalahandi
- Mayurbhanj
- Balasore
- Cuttack
- Ganjam
- Gajapati
According to the 2001 Census, the Savara population in Andhra Pradesh was 122,979.
According to the 2011 Census, the total literacy rate among the Savara community was reported as 13.68%.
Indigenous Scripts of the Munda Languages
There are three scripts that were created specifically for writing Munda languages:
- Sora Sompeng – for the Savara (Sora) language
- Ol Chiki – for the Santali language
- Warang Citi – for the Ho language
These three scripts are not visually similar and are not derived from a common script. They were independently created by influential community leaders to replace or supplement non-native writing systems.
Reference: Norman Zide
History of Sora Sompeng
The Savara language has also been written using an IPA-based system developed by Christian missionaries. In the early twentieth century, different writing systems were proposed for the language.
During the 1930s, there was disagreement within the community regarding which writing system was best suited to the Savara language. In response to this situation, Mangai Gomango, the son-in-law of an influential Savara leader, introduced the Sora Sompeng script in 1936.
Savara tradition states that the script itself is a divine incarnation of the deity known as Akshara Brahma.
Other scholars have suggested that some letter shapes may have been influenced by Latin or IPA letters, while certain additional loops may have been influenced by Telugu writing.
Origin and Development of the Sora Sompeng Script
Savara Pandit S. P. Mangai Gomango developed an indigenous script for the Savara language. The script consists of 25 letters and was developed at Marichaguda, Padmapur Block, Gunupur Sub-Division, Rayagada District, Odisha.
Sora Sompeng is also known by alternative names such as:
- Matar Banom
- Akshara Brahma
- Madi Brahma
The script is believed to have been developed around 1935–36. Its final form emerged after approximately two years of development.
S. P. Mangai Gomango compiled stories, grammar books, astrology books, and historical works about the Savara tribe using the Sora Sompeng script.
Some of these works were published by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, in 1976.
The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Seethampeta, Srikakulam District, has conducted training programmes to help Savara people learn the script. Storybooks and primers using the script have also been developed for primary school students.
References
- Norman Zide. 1996. Scripts for Munda Languages. In Peter T. Daniels and William Bright (Eds.), The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press, New York.
- Peter T. Daniels and William Bright. The World's Writing Systems. Oxford University Press, New York.
- Ramamurti, G. V. English-Sora Dictionary. Madras: Government Press.
- Ramamurti, G. V. Telugu-Savara Dictionary. Director of Public Instruction.
- Ramamurti, G. V. 1938 (Reprint: 1986). English-Sora Dictionary. New Delhi: Mittal Publications.
- Sankar Reddy, M. 1993. Savara Language Book. Goyidi, Srikakulam: Janachetana.
- Sankar Reddy. 1997. Savara Jivana Vijnana Akambol (Savara Life Educative Book). Goyidi: Janachetana. First Edition.
- S. P. Mangai Gomango. 1976. Matar Banom.
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