Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University of Jhargram is a state public university located in Jhargram, in the Jhargram district of West Bengal, India. The university serves as a regional centre of higher education in the Jangalmahal region of southwestern West Bengal, an area with a significant tribal and Adivasi population. It is named after Sadhu Ramchand Murmu, a Santal poet and social reformer associated with the cultural awakening of the Santal community.
| Name | Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University of Jhargram |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Jhargram, West Bengal, India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | Jhargram |
| Named after | Sadhu Ramchand Murmu |
Jhargram became a separate district of West Bengal in April 2017, carved out of the erstwhile Paschim Medinipur district. The creation of a dedicated university for the new district was part of a broader expansion of higher education in West Bengal, which has seen the establishment of several district-based state universities to widen access beyond Kolkata and traditional university centres such as Burdwan, Kalyani and North Bengal.
The university takes its name from Sadhu Ramchand Murmu, a noted Santali-language poet, songwriter and reformer remembered for his contributions to Santali literature, devotional songs and the social and cultural movements of the Santal community in the Jangalmahal region. The naming reflects the strong tribal heritage of Jhargram and adjoining areas of southwestern Bengal.
As a state university, the institution is intended to offer postgraduate programmes and to serve as an affiliating body for colleges in its territorial jurisdiction within the Jhargram region. Its academic remit is generally aligned with the broader pattern of state universities in West Bengal, which combine teaching departments with affiliation and examination functions.
The university is one of the principal higher education institutions in the Jangalmahal belt and plays a role in expanding access to university-level education for students from Jhargram and surrounding districts, including communities that have historically been underrepresented in higher education. Its association with the legacy of Sadhu Ramchand Murmu also gives it a symbolic place in the promotion of Santali language, literature and culture.