Need to promote ethnic literature stressed

Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, August 7

Indigenous and ethnic literature should be brought to the forefront along with the national Nepali language, said litterateurs.

Indigenous and ethnic litterateurs using Nepali language in their work should also write in their languages, said poet Bairagi Kainla, at a programme here on Wednesday. He made this comment at a literature workshop on indigenous and ethnic literature, celebrating the world indigenous and ethnic day. The programme was organised by Nepal Ethnic Federation, supported by Kirat Yakthung Chumlung.

“Ethnic literature speaks of suppression by other communities,” he pointed out. Kainla also said that the “the status of all ethnic languages is not similar, since Bhojpuri, Limbu, Maithali, and Newari literature are rich, while Magar literature is just beginning to develop.” Pointing out that a good piece of literature has no barrier, he added that “Even writers and poets writing in their mother tongue can get national and international acclaim.”

On Newari literature, litterateur Navin Chitrakar, said that its history goes back to Malla era. “Mahendra Malla was the first poet of the Newari literature, while Keshav Udas, was the first jana kabi (people’s poet),” he stressed. He also said that Mahendra Malla was the first poet in the world to use imagery in his poetry, but the world is not aware of the fact.

Newari literature flourished in the Malla era but it was “massacred” after the unification of Nepal, he said. During the Rana rule, it suffered along with other ethnic languages, he said.

Litterateur Tulsi Diwas said that democracy can be successful only with the development of cultural and economic democracy.

It is not enough that the cultural rights have been guaranteed by the constitution, since they should be implemented in practice, he said. “There is no point praising history and carrying its corpse because it’s the present that Nepalis have to concentrate, thereby creating proper environment for indigenous and ethnic languages,” he added.

Bhadra Kumari Ghale, member of the Royal Council said that if a good piece of literature is limited to one’s ethnic group, other communities will not have access to it. “We should blame our behaviour instead of our national language.”

Photos and books of communities such as Kirats, Majhi, Dhimal and Sunwar amongst others were also on display at Tamau Bauddha Sewa. Capt Kul B Limbu’s photo exhibition entitled “Forgotten faces” was also on display.