On 'recognition day', call to use Nepali language better

ASHISH PRADHAN, SNS, SILIGURI, 20 AUGUST 2020: As Gorkhas across the globe marked the 29th anniversary of the recognition of the Nepali language, former Member of Parliament from Sikkim Dil Kumari Bhandari, who was instrumental in having that feat achieved, and a noted educationist today said that the community has not been able to reap benefits of the recognition.

Speaking on a live talk show on the topic 'Triumphant Phase of Bhasa Manyata Andolan & Aftermath,' hosted on Facebook by news portal Publiknama, Mrs Bhandari said acommunity can avail of various benefits from the government after the recognition of one's language. "But we have not been able to do this in our case. We should be able to compete internationally by taking advantage of such benefits and writing international-level stories, articles and compositions," she said.

Publiknama is organising a seven-day special episode of such talk shows with special speakers each day to mark the Nepali language recognition day.

A movement started from Dehradun, when Nepali language crusaders Anand Singh Thapa, Bir Singh Bhandari and Narendra Rana wrote to the first Indian President Dr Rajendra Prasad on 18 January 1956 about the need for recognition of the language. The movement gradually found its way to the Hills of Darjeeling, Sikkim and other areas of the country where Gorkhas form a sizeable population.

Mrs Bhandari, who is also the wife of former Sikkim Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, tabled a Bill in the Ink Sabha andfinally managed to have it passed in the lower House. Both the Houses of Parliament recognised the language as "Indian modern language fit to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution" on 20 August 1992.

Since then the day is marked as the 'Nepali Bhasha Manyata Diwas' every year.

"This day, which was the or GS Yonzone result of an around four-decade- long struggle, is not only a happy moment to recall our victory, but also a time to look back on our history, go on introspection and think and discuss areas of improvement," Mrs Bhandari said.

"This recognition is the fruit of our collective fight and struggle, and as such this is dear to us," she ladded.

Recalling how the language crusaders fought for 36 long years, she quoted writer Subash Sotang as calling the Ianguage struggle the Gorkhas' first Mahabharat, and the recognition the first major victory of the Gorkha community in India.

Likening a mother tongue to a mother's milk, Mrs Bhandari said the new National Education Policy has stressed on the country's mother tongues and that there was a need for everyone to adopt the new policy, move ahead and make the coming generations more capable and crusaders of "aatma nirbhar Bharat."

On the other hand, noted educationist in the Hills, Dr GS Yonzone, told this correspondent separately that Nepali language has been recognised as a 'major language' in India.

"This means that the Gorkhas have become Number-1 citizens of India. This holds deep meaning and goes onto prove that we are an integral part of the country. This should put to rest all allegations, speculations and argument that Gorkhas are foreigners, as our language has been recognised and included in our Constitution, the supreme law of our country," Dr Yonzone, the former principal of Kalimpong College and a Fulbright professor, USA, said.

"However, 29 years down the line, we have not been able to promote and use the language properly. Organisations working for languages in the Hills have not taken this recognition in the right manner. The government is all ready to support the language, but our people concerned, and especially organisations working for our language must come forward and make plans," Dr Yonzone further said.