Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas, The Background of the Nepali Language Recognition Struggle

It was a moment of achievement for the Indian Nepalese (Gorkhas) when on 20th August 1992 the constitution of Indian gave recognition to Nepali language in the eight schedule of the Indian constitution. Because of this, August 20 is recognised as “Bhasa Manyata Diwas” every year.

Anang Singh Thapa, editor of the Nepali Newspaper named as “Jagrath Gorkha” from Dheradun and his colleagues Narendra Singh Rana & Bir Bahadur Bhandari submitted a memorandum to the First President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad back in 1956, seeking that the Nepali Language to be given Constitutional recognition. Overcoming all odds of discrimination and humiliation, leaders like Anang Singh Thapa, Ratanlal Bramin, Dil Kumari Bhandari mobilised the Gorkhas scattered around India, and fought the arduous battle for the constitutional recognition of the Nepali language. The Demand for the Nepali Language was initially felt in Dehradun before spreading to West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, etc.

In Darjeeling a Nepali literary organisation “Sahitya Sammelan” constituted a 25 people committee in 1970 and sent them off right away for a meeting with the President, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of India to put forward the demand for recognition to Nepali language. Dr. Parasmani Pradhan a well known author and poet from Darjeeling served as one of the group’s key member and after they returned from Delhi. Dr. Parasmani Pradhan published Books with titles such as A short history of Nepali language and literature, An explanation of Nepali language and literature, The origin of Nepali language and progress and Nepali language in the eight scheduled and all this publications were given to Sahitya Academy after its formation in 1976. In the year 1976 Sahitya Academy constituted a ten member Nepali Language advisory committee led by Dr. Parasmani Pradhan, Indra Bahadur Rai among the ten members renowned International Senior Nepali literature from Chandmari, Kohima, Nagaland Late. Hari Prasad Gorkha Rai was also one of the member of the advisory committee.

Comrade Ratanlal Bhramin won the Darjeeling Constituency General Elections 1971. On march 22, 1971 there were protest against him because he wanted to swear an oath as a sansad Member in Nepali but was barred from doing so. The “Nepali Bhasa Samiti,” afterwards known as the “Akhil Bharatiya Nepali Bhasa Samiti” was founded on January 3 1972. The major goal of this Organisation was to unite all the Gorkha cultural, intellectual, spiritual, social and other Organisation. Later all the Organisations under the “Akhil Bharatiya Nepali Bhasa Samiti” were asked to write a formal letter to the Prime Minister requesting that the Nepali be included in the list of officials language under the eight schedule of the Indian constitution. Soon, the discussion for recognition spread to the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills in West Bengal, as well as to Northeast Sates, continuing until the 1980s.

The Government continued switching but no one listened to Bharatiya Nepali Rashtriya Parishad request. However the General Election in 1991 marked a turning point in the Andolan for Dil Kumar Bhandari, the spouse of Nar Bahadur Bhandari the then Chief Minister of Sikkim, who went on to win and become a member of parliament for Sikkim. However, it was former Sikkim MP Dil Kumari Bhandari and the then Chief Minister, the late Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who re-ignited the language recognition movement in the 1990s. Dil Kumari Bhandari played a constructive role and tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha, gathered the support of nearly three hundred MPs to get the bill passes they took the concern to the Indian Parliament, where it garnered unanimous support from both houses. After 36 years of democratic struggle by the Gorkhas Nepali language was added in the eight schedule of the Indian constitution on 20th August 1992. It was a long struggle. Anand Singh Thapa began the movement in 1956, and it concluded only in 1992. On August 31, 1992, the then President signed the inclusion of the language. It was passed in both Parliament houses in 1992. Both Bhandaris fought fervently for language recognition. After many years of misinterpretation, misconception about the Gorkhas who have accepted India as their motherland and fought shoulder to shoulder with all the Indian Patriots struggle for independence. The sacrifices and exemplary patriotism of the valiant Gorkhas in this part of the world which has a history of more than two hundred years was acknowledged by giving national recognition to their mother tongue, to name a few Gorkhas are Ari Bahadur Gurung, a barrister and a member of Indian constitution drafting committee, Retd. Captian Ram Singh Thakuri, music composer of our National Anthem, Major Durga Malla, the first Gorkha Martyr of INA hanged to death by the then British regime whose statue is installed in the precinct of the parliament stands as an irrevocable history.

It is indeed a proud moment for the 10 million Indian Nepali speaking citizens for inclusion of Nepali language in the 8th schedule of Indian Constitution. Our literature is not only for us but also for a global audience, which the younger generation must learn and carry forward. Our literature should be inclusive of all communities in the Nepali diaspora. After receiving Constitutional recognition, we must determine the best way to advance it.

Tradition, progress, civilisation and existence of any caste depend directly on the language and literature of that caste. If our language is our priceless heritage, it is our ultimate duty to protect it and enrich it. I want to inspire and encourage our dear brothers and sisters to always be active in various literary genres involved in the uplifting of our language.

Jacob Sundas

President

Gorkha Students’ Union Chümoukedima District