Three decades after recognition, Nepali language struggles for identity

GANGTOK: On August 20, 1992, Nepali was recognised as one of the official languages of India with its inclusion in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. Three decades on, the day is recognised as ‘Bhasha Manayata Diwas’, celebrated mostly in Sikkim due to the efforts of former MP Dil Kumari Bhandari and her husband, the then Chief Minister Lt. Nar Bahadur Bhandari.

But beyond days marking the momentous occasion, how much does Nepali, a language spoken by close to 16 million people as per Census 2011, matter? Where does the language stand in Sikkim, where 62.61% of people have the Nepali language as their mother tongue but almost 90 per cent or above speak the language? What is the difference between the spoken language and the written language?

Balaram Pandey, assistant professor, Nepali language, University of Sikkim, says the Nepali language needs status planning.