Gayaji: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday inaugurated the Magahi Festival cum Dr Ram Prasad Singh International Literary Festival 2025 at Magadh University, reiterating his demand for the inclusion of Magahi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Organised jointly by Magahi Academy and Magadh University, the festival aimed to celebrate and preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of Magahi, a regional language spoken across parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the university also played a key role in the event’s execution.
Speaking at the Radhakrishnan Auditorium of the university’s Directorate of Distance Education, Manjhi said the festival was not just a cultural gathering but a significant step in connecting youth with their roots. “This event serves as a platform to preserve folk traditions and promote the Magahi language among future generations,” he said, adding that the presence of scholars, artists and cultural leaders would inspire further efforts in this direction.
Highlighting his long-standing commitment to the cause, Manjhi said he had raised the issue of Magahi’s constitutional recognition at both state and national levels. “I have formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also discussed it with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” he said. “Our demand has been pending for years, and it is high time that Magahi gets the recognition and respect it deserves.”
The event was presided over by Magadh University Vice Chancellor Prof Shashi Pratap Shahi. Among other notable attendees were Prof Upendra Kumar Singh, Vice Chancellor of Pataliputra University; author and former legislative council member Prof Prem Kumar Mani; Prof BRK Sinha; University Service Commission member Sushil Kumar; and several academics and cultural figures, including Prof Upendra Nath Verma, Paras, Singhasan, and Dilip.
The ceremony was conducted by Prof Meenakshi in the presence of educators, students, and Magahi enthusiasts from across the region.
Manjhi concluded his speech by commending Magahi Academy and Magadh University for their role in preserving Bihar’s rich folk and linguistic heritage, and reiterated that the movement to secure Magahi’s constitutional status would continue.
