Native to India, Nepal ISO 639-3 anp | ISO 639-2 anp Glottolog angi1238 | |
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Region Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal Language family Indo-European
Indo-Iranian
Indo-Aryan
Eastern
Bihari
Angika | ||
Angika (अंगिका), or Chhechha, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in eastern Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the Terai region of Nepal. Angika is written in the Devanagari script; although the Anga Lipi and Kaithi scripts were used historically.
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Classification
Angika is a Bihari language closely related to languages such as Bajjika, Maithili and Magahi. It was classified as a dialect of Maithili by George A. Grierson in the Linguistic Survey of India.
Angika is not listed in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India. Nevertheless, Angika language movements have advocated its inclusion, and a submitted request is currently pending with the Government.
Geographical distribution
Angika is primarily spoken in the Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of India.
In Bihar, Angika is spoken in the Araria District, Katihar District, Purnia District, Kishanganj District, Madhepura District, Saharsa District, Supaul District, Bhagalpur District, Banka District, Jamui District, Munger District, Lakhisarai District, Begusarai District, Sheikhpura District and the Khagaria District.
In Jharkhand, Angika is spoken in the Sahebganj District, Godda District, Deoghar District, Pakur District, Dumka District, Giridih District and the Jamtara District.
In West Bengal, Angika is spoken in the Malda District and the Uttar Dinajpur District.
Moreover, many Angika speakers have emigrated to the Persian Gulf, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other countries. Furthermore, substantial numbers of the Angika-speaking population have settled elsewhere in India, mainly in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Baroda, Surat, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jamshedpur and Bokaro.
Popular culture
Khagaria Vali Bhouji, the first ever Angika film, was released on 27 April 2007 in Laxmi Talkies, Khagaria, Bihar. Ang Putra, starring folk-singer Sunil Chailaa Bihari, was released in April 2010.
Suman Soorow, Ashwini, Naresh Pandey, Chakore, Permanand Pandey, Vidyabhushan Venu, Amrendra, Khushilal Manjar, Vimal Vidrohi, Ram Sharma Anal, Gorelal Manishi, Abhaykant Choudhary, Umesh Jee, Bahadur Mishra, Kundan Amitabh, Chandraprakash Jagpriya are among the notaries who have contributed towards Angika literature. Hundreds of standard literary books are also available in Angika language. Furthermore, Angika is taught at post-graduation level at Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University.
Grammar
