Kids Santali Classes: Preserving Language, Connecting Cultures
Our popular online Kids Santali Classes have been running successfully for over four years, driven by the dedication of two passionate instructors, Ms. Maino Murmu and Dr. Jhadeswar Murmu.
- Pioneering Effort: The program was initially launched by Maino Murmu, who leveraged her teaching expertise (in Hindi) to establish the first curriculum before being joined by Dr. Jhadeswar Murmu.
- Format: Classes are held virtually via Zoom every Sunday from September to June.
- Global Reach: While students are primarily from North America (USA & Canada), we proudly welcome participants from India and Qatar.
Note: Due to significant time zone differences, students from regions like Singapore and Japan cannot currently join.
Class Schedule (Eastern Time – ET)
| Months | Eastern Time (ET) | India Time |
| March – June, September – October | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
| November – February | 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM |
Maino Murmu
Ms. Maino Murmu is a certified Health Coach and Genomics Wellness Consultant with a deep, lifelong commitment to helping others live healthier, more joyful lives. Although she initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, Maino’s journey led her to the field of holistic wellness after moving to the USA. She reignited her passion by completing a year of Ayurveda training and deepening her knowledge at the Isha Yoga Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she mastered yoga asanas, meditation, and the art of compassionate service.
She also has formal training in language instruction, having completed the Hindi-Urdu STARTALK Program from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), which focuses on effective teaching and learning principles. For over a decade, Maino volunteered extensively with HindiUSA, where she taught language and culture to children and managed her local chapter for more than 13 years.
Today, Maino dedicates her work to empowering individuals to discover their inner strength, embrace healthy living, and cultivate joy and balance. She firmly believes that every person holds the answers within and simply needs the right guidance to uncover them.
With a strong foundation in language instruction and a deep commitment to cultural heritage, Maino initiated the Kids Santali Classes. She established the curriculum and structure, using her expertise gained from teaching Hindi-Urdu, before being joined by Dr. Jhadeswar Murmu. She remains one of the passionate core instructors teaching the Santali language and Ol Chiki script to children through the Santal International Association (SIA).
Dr. Jhadeswar Murmu grew up in a rural village in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. He holds a strong academic background, including an undergraduate degree from Ravenshaw College and a Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry from the University of Hyderabad.
After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Murmu conducted postdoctoral research in Canada at institutions like Queen’s University and the National Research Council, before transitioning to a stable career as an IT Analyst following a diploma in Computer Programming from Algonquin College.
Driven by a passion for cultural preservation, Dr. Murmu is committed to teaching the Ol Chiki script and the Santali language to children through the Santal International Association (SIA).
