Nepali language movement

The Nepali Language Movement (Nepali: नेपाली भाषा आन्दोलन) was a political movement in the Republic of India advocating the recognition of the Nepali language as an language with official status in India.[1][2] On 20 August 1992, the Lok Sabha passed a motion to add the Nepali language to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.[3] According to an estimate in 2017, in India there about 40 million Nepali-language speaking Indians.[4]

Not to be confused with Nepal Bhasa movement.
Nepali Language Movement
Part of Language conflict in India
Bhāṣā hāmrō prāṇa hō (भाषा हाम्रो प्राण हो, trans. Language is our life), a slogan used during the movement.
Location
Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim regions of India
GoalsRecognition of Nepali language in the Indian constitution
Resulted inNepali language listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India
Parties

Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas

Annually, Indian Gorkhas celebrate Nepali Language Recognition Day (officially Nepali Bhasha Manyata Diwas) on 20 August.[5][6] The day is celebrated by organizing parades, literary and cultural programmes throughout India in places with significant Nepali speaking population. The same day is also celebrated as the Meitei Language Day (aka Manipuri language day) as both Nepali and Meitei language (officially called Manipuri language) get the "official language" status at the same time.[7][8]

Sister movements

During the same time, there was Meitei language movement. Both the Nepali and Meitei language movements get their goals on the same day, with the declaration of Nepali language and Meitei language (officially termed as "Manipuri language") as the official languages of India.[9][10]

Current movements

There is also an ongoing movement to create a Nepali-speaking Gorkhaland state in India.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. "Nepali and Darjeeling: The importance of the language in Gorkhaland movement". The Indian Express. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  2. "Darjeeling, India's Nepali language hub". The Indian Express. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  3. "Struggle for Recognition of Nepali Language: A Brief Outline". Sikkim Express. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  4. Chapagain, Bhim (13 June 2017). "Darjeeling locals on warpath after Bengali is made a compulsory subject". My Republica. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  5. Dhungel, Pankaj (21 August 2021). "Three decades after recognition, Nepali language struggles for identity". EastMojo. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  6. "Darjeeling celebrates Bhasha Diwas". The Telegraph (India). Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  7. "English Releases". pib.gov.in. Thereafter three more languages viz, Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992.
  8. "30th Manipuri Language Day observed : 21st aug21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
  9. "English Releases". pib.gov.in. Thereafter three more languages viz, Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992.
  10. "30th Manipuri Language Day observed : 21st aug21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
  11. "India – Gorkhaland". Country Studies. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  12. Daniyal, Shoaib (30 September 2017). "Reviving Gorkhaland: How language identity and ethnic strife is driving violence in Darjeeling". Scroll.in. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

Further reading
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