[lg policy] Nepal: Lawmakers urge recognition for all languages

[Harold Schiffman]

Lawmakers urge recognition for all languages
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Constituent Assembly members called for assuring
the linguistic rights of every indigenous community in the upcoming
constitution at a seminar in the Capital on Monday. The seminar on
‘Status of Indigenous and Endangered Languages of Nepal’ was organised
by Language Preservation and Promotion Centre-Nepal and the South Asia
Institute.  Jitendra Sonar, Assembly member, said that if the new
constitution doesn’t recognise linguistic rights, “it may lead the
country towards conflict”. Therefore, a sense of “ownership towards
every language should be brought”.

According to Assembly member Gopal Thakur, though there had been calls
for recognizing linguistic rights during the Rana era as well as in
the Panchayat era, “the voices were suppressed by the state”. But, he
said, the present government is quite positive towards the issue.
According to Nawadita Chaudhary, chairperson of Cultural and Social
Solidarity Campaign, to represent the 145 languages recognised in the
constitution is a great challenge. “We are continuously working to
bring together a multi-language policy.”

Papers on Majhi, Rajbansi, Lohmi, Danwar and Chepang languages were
presented in the seminar, and recommendations were made to the
Assembly members present to follow while drafting the new
constitution.

http://www.ekantipur.com/kolnews.php?&nid=209014

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