Lepcha language learning programme received UN based World Summit Award 2023

 The only organisation to receive the World Summit Award 2023 from India as well as Asia is the Rongring Lepcha Culture Welfare Society.

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 22 April 2024: Lepcha language and its learning programme is not only recognised golbally but also could receive an international level United Nations based award. On 17th April a team of four Lepchas representing their organisation Rongring Lepcha Culture and Welfare Society (RLCWS) received the most prestigious World Summit Award 2023 at Chile. RLCWS was awarded the international award in the category of culture and heritage for the year 2023 as the only Indian and Asian recipient. 

The team comprised of Gideon Tasho Lepcha, Abel Rongong, Saom Namchu and Jyotsna Sitling. The team had been to Patagonia of Chile during the Winners ceremony held from 14th to 17th of April, 2024 and received the award holding the Indian and RLCWS flag amidst a gathering of around 400 leaders from 182 countries.

The team arrived today and addressed a press conference at Kalimpong. RLCWS is one of the 40 WSA Winners 2023, chosen from 466 nominations in 88 countries.

Rongring is designed to save the endangered tribal language of the Lepcha community in the Himalayan region. Listed as endangered by UNESCO, the Lepcha language is challenged by migration, weak oral transmission, 97% illiteracy among natives, insufficient resources, and high learner dropout. Building on respect for tradition, economic inclusivity, and community collaboration, the language-learning platform has developed a script for the first time. Rongring offers learning spaces in schools and villages, access to the platform, and simplified content and translation.

It encourages kids to learn their heritage language, uniting Lepchas across borders in shared cultural identity. 

Technical team of RLCWS with language teachers comprising of Zerah Rongong Lepcha, Abel Rongong Lepcha, Chewang Lepcha, Nima Namchu Lepcha, Gideon Taso Lepcha has produced this Lepcha language self learning mobile and web application and can be browsed at portal https://rongring.com/rongring-platform/.

Addressing the media Gideon Namchu Lepcha, the chairman of RLCWS stated that its not only a matter of pride but also an inspiration and scope to develop the language learning technology to even AI. 

Gideon Taso Lepcha, the technical expert of the team explained his experience of the entire journey to Chile and his interaction with officials and others of different nations. He stated that he could explain well to the officials that most phonetics in the Lepcha language is inspired and similar to the sounds available in the nature so its pure as nature and unique. "Our language is ancient language, have unique symbols and is framed in the logical pattern", said Gideon Taso .

Gideon Taso also thanked the Lepcha people who supported them in their prayers and helped the team financially and by other means.  

Earlier the team was received at Bagdogra Airport by Rong Sezum (Lepcha association) of Siliguri and felicitated at Kalimpong by Ruden Sada Lepcha the chairman of the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board and its members. 

The Wangboo Framework provides beginners with a cohesive set of rules for accurate reading and writing. The Rongring SaaS platform offers a digital solution with six courses, addressing scalability and accessibility challenges. Additionally, RLCWS organized eight online webinars, featuring experts discussing various aspects of Lepcha culture, heritage, and language, fostering awareness and understanding. These efforts collectively aim to overcome obstacles like limited engagement, cultural influence, and the high dropout rate in learning the complex language structure.

This online class has helped over 300 students to read and write in Lepcha since its inception. Students from all over India, and beyond like United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Maldives, Czech Republic, Nepal & Bhutan have so far attended it from where students log in every week. Lepchas are considered to be one of the indigenous tribe of the Himalayan region and are mostly inhabitants of Sikkim, West Bengal (Hill region), eastern Nepal, western and south western Bhutan and Tibet. It is also said that it is considered to be one of the aboriginal languages, pre dating the arrival of Tibetan and Nepali languages. 

Lepcha language is mostly prevalent amongst the people of Sikkim, Kalimpong and Darjeeling of West Bengal and in parts of Nepal and Bhutan. The language has its own dialect, script and grammar and has a rich repository of literature. According to the tradition, it was devised in the 17th century by scholar Thikúng Men Salóng. Keeping in view the urgent need to revive the Lepcha language an innovative venture was initiated by Gideon Taso Lepcha in 2020 to start the online Lepcha Language through “Rongring course” which has a vision to create awareness and promote the Lepcha language locally and globally in all the communities. 

Gideon Taso Lepcha while addressing the conference stated that the World Summit Award ceremony was like a workshop and interactive session organised by UN WSIS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by showcasing creative uses of digital innovation.  "We could also showcase our motto " when languages fade, culture vanish" and teach them some of our words," Gideon Taso added.