Script - Ol Onal

Ol Onal is a script used historically for writing the Santali language, an Austroasiatic tongue spoken in parts of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Unlike the more widely known Santali script, Ol Chiki, Ol Onal is a distinct, now largely obsolete writing system that employs a set of unique glyphs, some of which resemble stylized human figures, animals, or natural objects. It was primarily used in the early 20th century by a small community before falling into disuse, though it remains of scholarly interest for its innovative design and cultural significance. The script’s characters are encoded with a specific tag that identifies them as belonging to this particular tradition, enabling digital preservation and study of its inscriptions and manuscripts.