Self-taught Jharkhand developer builds dictionary app to keep Ho language alive – ‘Language is one of the biggest markers of our identity

Among these users is Dobro Biruly, a Ho writer and language activist based in Chaibasa, who believes such digital tools mark an important step in bringing indigenous languages into the modern technological space. This is particularly significant since the Ho script, Warang Chiti, received international recognition after being included in the Unicode Standard in 2014 — meaning it can be used in modern digital environments alongside other major languages.

“Today the world is moving into the digital space, and our languages also need to find their place there,” Biruly says. “When young people from the community build tools like a digital dictionary, it helps strengthen both language learning and cultural identity.”

Dildar Purty, an assistant professor who teaches the Ho language at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University in Ranchi, agrees, saying digital tools play a crucial role in language preservation, especially among younger generations.

“Young people today spend far more time on their mobile phones than with books. In this digital age, reaching learners through technology can sometimes be more effective than traditional printed materials,” Purty says.

Keeping identity alive

Ho is part of the Austroasiatic language family, which includes Vietnamese, Khmer and Santhali. Closely related to Mundari, it is also spoken in parts of West Bengal, apart from Odisha and Jharkhand. In 2011, it received ‘second official language’ status in Jharkhand.

According to the 2011 Census, Ho has 14.21 lakh speakers, with over 9 lakh in Jharkhand alone.

The first version of the project was a simple desktop software for personal computers.

“Most of the work has been done voluntarily by a small team of contributors, including academics and language experts. The main investment has been time,” he says.

But as smartphone use grew rapidly, Krishna and a small group of collaborators decided to shift focus to a mobile application. After working on it gradually for several years, often alongside other professional commitments, the group released the first version on the Google Play Store in 2021.

The app functions primarily as a trilingual dictionary, allowing users to search for words in English, Hindi and Ho. It also provides translations and example sentences and includes words written in Warang Chiti, a script developed specifically for the language.

Beyond language learning, Krishna sees digital tools as a way to address a long-standing challenge faced by many indigenous languages: that of accessibility. Traditionally, dictionaries and learning materials have been produced in print, a process that can be expensive and difficult to distribute widely. “If someone publishes a book, the cost is high and the reach is limited. But if we create digital tools, people anywhere in the world can access them,” he said.

But the dictionary plays another vital role: it helps preserve the Ho identity, especially in an era when English and Hindi dominate digital spaces. “Language is one of the biggest markers of our identity.”

Writer Biruly agrees. “For languages that are still struggling for wider recognition, even a small step like an app can be significant,” Biruly says. “It shows that the community itself is taking initiative to preserve and develop the language.”

Meanwhile, Krishna hopes digital tools such as an online dictionary will help gain wider recognition for the language, and even help its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which currently recognises 22 languages.

“We have currently approximately 10,000 downloads after the upgrade. If one day the app reaches one lakh downloads, it will show how many people are actively interested in learning and using the language,” he says. “That kind of data can also demonstrate its relevance.”

Krishna now hopes to expand the app’s vocabulary and add translation tools. He also plans to allow users to suggest new words that can be reviewed by language experts and incorporated into future updates.

For him, the goal remains simple: ensuring the Ho language continues to evolve alongside modern technology. “Today’s generation is on the internet,” he said. “If our language does not enter the digital world, it will slowly disappear. We have to bring it there.”