BGPM Youth Wing Demands Sign Boards in Nepali Language in Darjeeling

Deep Gazmer, EOI, Darjeeling, April 17, 2025 : The youth front of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness among the public about the significance and importance of using the Nepali language. On Thursday, the BGPM youth wing held meetings with members of the trading community in the Darjeeling sub-division and officials of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to press their demand for the inclusion of Nepali language on signboards.

"Our language is our identity and soul. We must respect our language and ensure its presence in public spaces. While we have no objection to the use of other languages, we believe it dilutes the prominence of the Nepali language," said Amrit Yonzon, President of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Yuva Morcha.

The youth wing has demanded that sign boards in Nepali be made mandatory in hotels and both government and private establishments. They believe this is a vital step in preserving the language, culture, and identity of the Gorkha community.

"We want all establishments, both government and private, in the GTA area to display signboards and signage in Nepali alongside other languages. We will reach out to the public to build awareness," added Yonzon.

GTA Sabha Chairman Anjul Chowhan, Darjeeling Municipality Chairman Dipen Thakuri, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Owners Association, and various business associations including Medical, Hardware, Timber, Himalayan Shoppers, and Jewellery Associations attended the meeting.

BGPM President and GTA Chairman Anit Thapa, in his address on the occasion of the Nepali New Year on April 14, had urged all establishments to use Nepali signboards along with other languages.

"We must not only talk and think about language on special occasions. We must actively implement it. Using the Nepali language on signboards sends a message that this is the land where Gorkhas live," Thapa had said.

GTA Sabha Chairman Anjul Chowhan echoed the demand, calling it justified and stating that the administration would take it up officially. "The demand to use signboards in Nepali is justified. We will act on this issue seriously," he said.

Sharing similar views, Darjeeling Municipality Chairman Dipen Thakuri said he would appeal to the public for support. "We had started implementing Nepali signboards in the Darjeeling Municipality area following a GTA notification in September 2024. But there was some laxity along the way. We will now revive and continue the process," he added.

The BGPM youth front plans to hold similar meetings in Mirik, Kurseong, and Kalimpong later this month to garner broader support for their initiative.