Regard For Language

Nepal is a multi-lingual and multi-ethnic country. A total of 123 languages are spoken throughout the country. But in the past, not all languages got the same level of protection because of the entrenched political system based on centralised governance. With the country ushering in democratic set-up, struggles for recognition of the languages spoken by many ethnic communities gathered momentum. However, it was only after the adoption of federal democratic system, the tradition of protecting language in line with the constitutional provision came into being. Giving continuity to this norm, on May 6, Bagmati provincial government bestowed official status to Tamang and Nepal languages. This effort deserves appreciation. In this regard, the elation exuded by the Tamang and Newar communities (who number at least 1.6 million and 1.3 million respectively, according to the 2021 census) is understandable.