In the heart of West Bengal, a language with a small yet significant number of speakers struggles to stay alive. With a slender count of approximately 1,600 speakers, the Toto language faces the threat of extinction. An initiative aimed at preserving this disappearing dialect has emerged in the form of a trilingual (Toto-Bengali-English) dictionary titled “Toto Shabda Sangraha.” Scheduled for release on 7th October 2023, this dictionary stands as a beacon of hope for the continuity of the Toto language.
Understanding the Toto Language
Originating from the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, the Toto language is traditionally practiced by the Toto tribal clan primarily located along the West Bengal-Bhutan border. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classifies it as a critically endangered language. Mainly an oral language, a script for the Toto language, devised by the eminent community member Dhaniram Toto, who holds the honour of the Padma Shri, only came to light in 2015. Nevertheless, most Totos either use the Bengali script or write in the Bengali language instead of their own.
Demographics of the Toto Tribe
The Toto tribe is an isolated and primitive tribal community, residing solely in Totopara, a petite enclave in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. They are labelled as a Mongoloid people. The entire Toto population, as per the 2001 census, accounts for less than 2000 individuals, all situated in Totopara.
Their society is mainly governed by endogamous practices; they prefer to marry within their tribe. Toto families are patrilocal by nature, meaning a newly wedded couple resides with the husband’s parents, although nuclear families dominate. However, joint families aren’t uncommon. Monogamy is generally practiced, yet polygamy isn’t forbidden. Interestingly, there is no custom of divorce among the Toto tribe.
India’s Multilingual Tribal Communities
The cultural richness of India is manifested in its abundant tribal population, each with its unique language and tradition. Notably, Odisha houses 62 tribal communities, accounting for 22.8% of the state’s total populace. These tribes speak languages from three major language families: Austro-Asiatic (Munda), Dravida, and Indo-Aryan. Out of these numerous languages, only seven possess scripts, including Santali, which has been incorporated into the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
India’s linguistic diversity, exemplified by the endangered Toto language, deserves recognition and preservation efforts. With initiatives like the “Toto Shabda Sangraha”, there remains hope for the continuity and revival of such unique languages and the rich culture they represent.