OctaviaKeys89 at 18:58, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T18:58:45Z

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{{Short description|Indian Toto language writer and Padma Shri awardee (born 1964)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dhaniram Toto
| birth_date = 1964
| birth_place = [[Totopara]], Madarihat-Birpara CD Block, Alipurduar district, West Bengal, India
| occupation = Government employee, writer, language activist
| notable_works = ''Dhanua Toto Kathamala''<br>''Dumra Thirte''<br>''Dhanua Nadir Tire''<br>''Uttal Torsa''
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]
| spouse = Champa Toto
| children = Sanjay Toto, Ranjay Toto, Dhananjay Toto, and one daughter
| parents = Amepa Toto (father)<br>Lakshmini Toto (mother)
}}

'''Dhaniram Toto''' (born 1964) is an Indian writer, language activist and government employee from the Toto community of West Bengal. He is known for developing the script of the endangered [[Toto language]] and for his literary contributions in the language. In 2023, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian award, in the field of Literature and Education.<ref name="ie">{{Cite web |title=Fight to save dying Toto language: Dhaniram Toto gets Padma Award |url=https://bengali.indianexpress.com/west-bengal/fight-to-save-dying-toto-language-dhaniram-toto-gets-padma-award-538303/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="pib">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards 2023 announced |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1893797 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Dhaniram Toto was born in Totopara village under the Madarihat-Birpara Community Development Block of Alipurduar district, West Bengal. He is the middle son of Amepa Toto and Lakshmini Toto. His father served as the last traditional head of the Toto community's indigenous council.

He studied up to Class X but could not continue regular education following the death of his father in 1976. He later completed his secondary education through the West Bengal Rabindra Mukta Vidyalaya Parishad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2024-02-20 |title=Padma Shri Awardee Dhaniram Toto to Prepare 7-Generation Family Tree of Totos |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!state/padma-shri-awardee-dhaniram-toto-to-prepare-family-tree-of-totos-enn24022002625 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=en}}</ref> He subsequently joined the Backward Classes Welfare and Tribal Development Department of the [[Government of West Bengal]] and was later promoted to an official post.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribal |first=The Indian |date=2023-02-08 |title=Padma Shri Dhaniram, His Will Paved The Way |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2023/02/08/achievers-west-bengal-india-padma-shri-dhaniram-his-will-paved-the-way/ |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Indian Tribal |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Literary career==

Toto has written poetry, novels and essays in the Toto language. His notable works include:

* ''Uttal Torsa'' and ''Dhanua Toto Kathamala'' <ref>{{cite news |last1=Ghosh |first1=Bishwanath |title=A dictionary to save a language from extinction |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/a-dictionary-with-the-purpose-of-saving-a-bengal-language-from-dying/article67356202.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 February 2026 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=28 September 2023 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Creation of the Toto script==

Although the [[Toto language]] belongs to the [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan family]], it historically lacked an independent script and was written using the Bengali script. In 2005, Dhaniram Toto began efforts to develop a distinct writing system for the language.

He collaborated with Australian linguist Toby Anderson during the process. After nearly a decade of research and experimentation, the Toto script was formally introduced on 22 May 2015. The script consists of 22 consonants, 9 vowels and 6 diphthongs, totalling 37 characters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dasgupta |first1=Debarshi |title=One letter at a time – Toto tribal community in eastern India strives to protect its language |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/one-letter-at-a-time-toto-tribal-community-in-eastern-india-strives-to-protect-its-language |access-date=14 February 2026 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |date=25 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

The script has received international recognition, including registration under ISO 15924 (Code: Toto/294). His work is regarded as a significant step in safeguarding the linguistic identity of the Toto community.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Hritwick |last2=Saha |first2=Sajal |last3=Guha |first3=Ambalika |last4=Ballav |first4=Debanjan |last5=Mitra |first5=Soumi |title=Integrating Linguistics and AI: Morphological Analysis and Corpus development of Endangered Toto Language of West Bengal |journal=[[arXiv]] |date=6 September 2025 |volume=9 |issue=06 |pages=23 |publisher=[[Adamas University]] |issn=2096-4366 | via=[[arXiv]]}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[Padma Shri]] in Literature and Education (2023) <ref>{{cite news |last1=Chowdhury |first1=Santanu |title=Padma Shri comes as recognition to Toto people: Dhaniram |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/padma-shri-comes-as-recognition-to-toto-people-dhaniram-8408769/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 February 2026 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=28 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Toto language]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Alipurduar district]]
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]

Dhaniram Toto - Revision history

OctaviaKeys89 at 18:58, 25 March 2026