Kurmali

Kurmali, also spelled Kurmali, is a name used for a community and the language associated with it in eastern India. The term refers principally to the Kurmi agricultural communities found in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of West Bengal, where farming and trade have historically been central to livelihoods. Social organization and cultural practices vary with region and subcaste.

The Kurmali language is spoken by Kurmi communities in these areas. Its classification is debated among linguists: it is described by some as a distinct language, while others treat it as a dialect cluster with strong influence from regional languages such as Odia and Bengali. Kurmali features multiple dialects, and language use often coexists with the regional languages of the state.

Historically, Kurmali has been written in several scripts, including Devanagari, Odia, and Bengali, depending on local education and administration. In modern times, literacy materials and media in Kurmali may employ these scripts, as well as Latin transliteration in academic works.

In official and educational contexts, Kurmali is generally not recognized as a separate scheduled language; speakers typically use state-level languages such as Hindi, Odia, or Bengali for formal education and administration. Documentation and language-planning efforts by linguists and community groups aim to preserve Kurmali dialects and promote literacy.