September 3, 2026 was a red-letter day in the annals of Tapan Assembly Constituency (AC), South Dinajpur. It was the Birth Centenary Celebration of Nathaniyal Robinson Murmu (September 3, 1926 - October 25, 1989), the towering Adivasi social thinker, Santali litterateur par excellence and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MLA from Tapan Legislative Assembly.

Nathaniyal has a unique track record of four electoral victories: 1962–1967, 1967–1969, 1969–1971, 1977–1982. Incidentally, Tapan Constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). South Dinajpur has a land port border with Bangladesh at Hili.

Nathaniyal's father, Cornelius Murmu (a school teacher), and his mother, Naso Soren, were from Narayanpur Mission, West Dinajpur district (now South Dinajpur since April 1, 1992).

To commemorate this historic occasion, the Departments of History, Sociology and Political Science organised a one-day state-level seminar in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial College. The caption of the seminar was: "JONMO SHOTOBORSHER ALOKE NATHANIYAL MURMU: JIBON O SRIJON (1926-2026)." It means remembrance of the Life and Creation of Nathaniyal Murmu on his Birth Centenary (1926-2026).

The Chief Guest, Dr Sukanto Majumder, MP of Balurghat and Union Minister of State, could not attend the Centenary Celebration due to a pressing schedule. Mr Budhrai Tudu, MLA (BJP) of Tapan, unveiled Nathaniyal Murmu's bust at Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial (NMM) College campus on September 3 at 12 noon. Afterwards, he inaugurated the one-day seminar on Nathaniyal Murmu at the College's Gitanjali Seminar Hall. He said it was a great honour to inaugurate the Birth Centenary function as the MLA and Nominated President of the Governing Body of the College. He promised to do everything in his power to take the College to greater heights, as his constituency is one of the most backward regions of Bengal.

He also assured that there won't be any fund constraints in bringing out the Centenary Celebration book, which will document the pioneering works of the great mass leader Nathaniyal Murmu. He also proposed setting up a cultural centre and an archery stadium in Tapan to honour Nathaniyal Murmu, whom Jyoti Basu held in high esteem.

The Keynote Speaker for the State-level Seminar was Professor (Dr) Suranjan Midde (Bengali Faculty – Rabindra Bharati University). The Resource Persons were: Jnanendra Nath Mandal (Retired Assistant Headmaster, Tapan High School and former Guest Lecturer, NMM College) and Dr Tonol Murmu (Honorary General Secretary – All India Santal Welfare and Cultural Society).

The other dignitaries present were Mr Ranen Barman, Ex-MP (Balurghat constituency) and founder member of Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial Society; Professor Sachindranath Bala, Principal of Pakuya Hat College, Malda; Mr Nagendra Hembrom, Coordinator of Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial Committee, well-known social worker and famous flautist; and Professor Ms Radha Rani Roy, Acting Principal of the College.
Dr Mahendra Biswas (Head, Bengali Faculty) efficiently emceed the whole programme.

Salient points of Dr Suranjan Midde's speech
1.    Nathaniyal Murmu, a great visionary, travelled from Narayanpur-Dinajpur to Kolkata and then to Oxford University (UK) to better equip himself to serve his people.
2.    He was such a versatile linguist that the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu had instructed his MLAs to attentively listen to his erudite discourse at the West Bengal Assembly, because, as a purist, he never mixed languages when he spoke – be it in English or Bengali or Santali.
3.    He expressed full confidence in MLA Budhrai's leadership and support in ensuring the publication of Nathaniyal Murmu's birth centenary book and in helping the College improve in all respects.

Dr Tonol Murmu reminisced
1.    His father was a teacher for a few years but discerned that he must join full-time politics to achieve his mission of economic & social uplift of his electorate.
2.    As a Master Communicator, he was a friend, philosopher, and guide for the Aam Aadmi and knew every family in his constituency like the back of his hand.
3.    He urged youths to pursue higher education because he had realised life doesn't take kindly to "also-rans" and that only quality education can empower the downtrodden.
4.    When Nathaniyal became MLA during Siddhartha Sankar Ray's chief ministership, he was put on the Language Committee. In 1972, he introduced Santali for the first time as a first language in Madhyamik, and in 1976 in the Higher Secondary syllabus. He also got Visva-Bharati Shantiniketan to introduce Santali as a subject for UG and PG. Now Santali is taught from KG to PG and in 34 universities.
5.    There is an urgent need to chronicle Nathaniyal's works and translate his unfulfilled dream of uplifting and empowering the marginalised, particularly farmers, into action.
6.    West Bengal has 39 Adivasi communities. Many do not even get primary education in their mother tongue (in line with the National Education Policy 2023). This creates significant early learning challenges for children aged 3–8 years.

Nagendra Hembrom, Coordinator of Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial Committee, who enthralled the gathered audience with his soothing flute play, reminisced that Nathaniyal would go house to house and urge his people to get educated for tangible empowerment.

Mr Ranen Barman, former MP (Balurghat Constituency, May 10, 1996–May 17, 2009), said he donated Rupees Fifty Lakh from his MP fund to found Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial College. He also recalled that Prashanta Kumar Mazumder, who succeeded him as Balurghat MP in May 2009, ensured all mandatory compliance for the College's affiliation, including donating funds from his MP quota.

Nathaniyal Murmu's Published Literary Works
1.    Ojoy Gada Dhip re (On the bank of the Ajoy River – 1994). This book is part of the syllabus for regional language and literature studies, including UPSC and university curricula.
2.    Santali Parsi Reyak Tayam Daram (means "The Future of the Santali Language")
3.    Anari Hor (an amateur or inexperienced person).
4.    Kaki Go (Santali form of respect for one's father's younger brother's wife)
5.    Bursi Sengel (often used as an analogy for deep, slow-burning sorrow, hidden pain, or unexpressed love that stays alive inside a person's heart, just like the embers in a clay).

Nathaniyal also edited several Santali literary journals and magazines, namely Arsal (1954), Sar Badle (1966), etc. In 1959, he floated the All Indian Santali Linguist Committee in Dumka and launched "Arang" (Voice – 1960), a monthly magazine. In 1965, he founded Santali Literary and Cultural Society in Kolkata and launched "Jugsirijol" (Birth of an Era – 1971). He served as its editor for life (1971–1989). For his outstanding contribution to promoting and uplifting Santali language and literature, the West Bengal government conferred the Gunijan Sangbardhana award.

Nathaniyal Murmu was a prominent leader in the Tebhaga movement (a major peasant uprising in Bengal from 1946 to 1947), the Food Movement, and various other peasant movements. For this, he was imprisoned several times.

In the 1970s, he became Chairman of the Minorities Commission and worked tirelessly for their welfare. As Director of the North Bengal Transport Corporation, he brought marked improvements in transport infrastructure, including the construction of Balurghat and Raigunj Bus Termini.

Several places in South Dinajpur named after him are: Nathaniyal Murmu Memorial College, Nathaniyal Murmu Boys' Hostel, Nathaniyal Murmu Bridge and Nathaniyal Murmu Smriti Samaj Bikas Kendra Golabari.
Nathaniyal Murmu's determination to improve the lives of his tribal electorate through education and social empowerment was quite evident to us.

Today, the Adivasi community in Tapan and South Dinajpur, at large, have realised this single-minded pursuit. Nathaniyal's own son, Dr Tonol Murmu, is a consultant for several organisations; his eldest daughter is pursuing her Master's (English) from Jadavpur University. The other shining examples are Santhali writers, poets, musicians and social workers, namely Kistu Murmu at Rajibpur (writer of several books and journals – the cover page in one of his books reads: "Let Adivasis of the world be one."); Mithun Horo (of Mustafapur) is supervising the translation of the Bible in 23 tribal languages, an accomplished artist, photographer and a percussion player; famous flautist Nagendra Murmu; Mrs Belasi Surin (Kerketta), an exponent of Munda language; and several others.

Mrs Belasi gifted us two booklets she has typed in the Munda language: (1) Gospel of Mark and (2) The Book of Acts. She also demonstrated Jesus' teaching at the Last Supper by washing Professor Suranjan Midde's and this writer's feet with water, rubbing them with oil, and then wiping them dry with a towel. It was really a unique experience of tribal Christian love for us!

The life-learning lessons for us were: The quiet bond among tribals of all communities in South Dinajpur; the eco-friendly and artistic mud houses of Rajibpur adjacent to Fr Nobile Road; the smile on their faces despite the hardships of life; and their steadfast perseverance to preserve their indigenous musical culture of flute, harmonium, folk songs, the Tumdak and the Tamak.