It was not an amazing but surely a set back to read in a recent interview with a Nepalese daily newspaper that Information and Communication Minister Nandalal Rai see the possibility of communal violence in the country if the government initiated to revive the Nepali language version of the state-controlled Kuensel daily.
I noted it quite interestingly on what ground that he linked Kuensel’s expansion with communal violence.
The first language of public communication for various ethnic groups in the country is English. Nepali follows it in second with the national language Dzongkha at third.
Kuensel’s Nepali version was closed years ago. The government shut Nepali language curriculum in south since 1990, which created a whole generation of Nepali speaking population not knowing how to read his/her language. I think Rai can speak or read Nepali well but no wonder he sure does not know speaking his own Kirati language and additionally his children might not know both of them. In fact he is coercing his children for Dzongkha and avoids other two languages of the community that he and his new generation belongs to.
Language and culture are not the sources of conflict, they are resolutions. They bring harmony and peace not chaos and turmoil. Brought up under the strict discipline of the army barracks with Dzongkha as the only language of communication inside it, Rai must have well developed psyche that Drukpas wished to inculcate on him.
It is time that he changed his old thoughts at par with the change he has gained in his role to serve the country. He was serving the Dzongkha rulers as army personnel which has now changed to the service of the people.
As a representative of the Nepali speaking population, his statement, if reached to southern districts, will surely create angst against him. Rai’s statement is not the sentiments of south. He is not only obstructing the persons’ right to education in his/her own mother tongue as enshrined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Bhutan is a signatory, but also made them illiterate of a language once used in official documents.
When I translated the country’s constitution from English to Nepali and mailed to as many Nepali speaking friends in the country, I was shocked to learn that a full generation know nothing about Nepali script while they speak it with difficulty. It was rather the Drukpas who managed to read some of the stuffs and responded me. Mr Rai must feel shame that his community does not know its language while people from other community tacitly read it.
As representative of the Nepali speaking population, Mr Rai not only holds responsibility to widen the scope of Nepali language but also to educate a generation who did not see school in their life either for not getting No Objection Certificate or due to closure of the schools in the south. He must know that political leaders and the MPs rather know Nepali better than Dzongkha taking note of the ineffective debates that take place in parliament.
Dzongkha does not have enough vocabulary to meet the current demands. This was reflected when drafters had to imports Tibetan words to write constitution. Nepal has all words that can explain the legal and technological circumstances. Under this situation, it is better that government encourage newspaper publishers for Nepali version that to coerce them for compulsory Dzongkha edition.
Ban in Nepali does not maintain harmony. Rather, it prepares people to burst against such policy when opportunity arrives. Letting them of the right to promote their language will help people keep harmony and understanding in society. Mr Rai must realize it sooner for better.
It was not an amazing but surely a set back to read in a recent interview with a Nepalese daily newspaper that Information and Communication Minister Nandalal Rai see the possibility of communal violence in the country if the government initiated to revive the Nepali language version of the state-controlled Kuensel daily.
I noted it quite interestingly on what ground that he linked Kuensel’s expansion with communal violence.
The first language of public communication for various ethnic groups in the country is English. Nepali follows it in second with the national language Dzongkha at third.
Kuensel’s Nepali version was closed years ago. The government shut Nepali language curriculum in south since 1990, which created a whole generation of Nepali speaking population not knowing how to read his/her language. I think Rai can speak or read Nepali well but no wonder he sure does not know speaking his own Kirati language and additionally his children might not know both of them. In fact he is coercing his children for Dzongkha and avoids other two languages of the community that he and his new generation belongs to.
Language and culture are not the sources of conflict, they are resolutions. They bring harmony and peace not chaos and turmoil. Brought up under the strict discipline of the army barracks with Dzongkha as the only language of communication inside it, Rai must have well developed psyche that Drukpas wished to inculcate on him.
It is time that he changed his old thoughts at par with the change he has gained in his role to serve the country. He was serving the Dzongkha rulers as army personnel which has now changed to the service of the people.
As a representative of the Nepali speaking population, his statement, if reached to southern districts, will surely create angst against him. Rai’s statement is not the sentiments of south. He is not only obstructing the persons’ right to education in his/her own mother tongue as enshrined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Bhutan is a signatory, but also made them illiterate of a language once used in official documents.
When I translated the country’s constitution from English to Nepali and mailed to as many Nepali speaking friends in the country, I was shocked to learn that a full generation know nothing about Nepali script while they speak it with difficulty. It was rather the Drukpas who managed to read some of the stuffs and responded me. Mr Rai must feel shame that his community does not know its language while people from other community tacitly read it.
As representative of the Nepali speaking population, Mr Rai not only holds responsibility to widen the scope of Nepali language but also to educate a generation who did not see school in their life either for not getting No Objection Certificate or due to closure of the schools in the south. He must know that political leaders and the MPs rather know Nepali better than Dzongkha taking note of the ineffective debates that take place in parliament.
Dzongkha does not have enough vocabulary to meet the current demands. This was reflected when drafters had to imports Tibetan words to write constitution. Nepal has all words that can explain the legal and technological circumstances. Under this situation, it is better that government encourage newspaper publishers for Nepali version that to coerce them for compulsory Dzongkha edition.
Ban in Nepali does not maintain harmony. Rather, it prepares people to burst against such policy when opportunity arrives. Letting them of the right to promote their language will help people keep harmony and understanding in society. Mr Rai must realize it sooner for better.
Thank you, IP Bhai for writing this article. This exposed a great insight of the Bhutanese leaders especially of the Communication’s Minister. It is utterly shame on him. He being the Minister of Communication should have encouraged the Govt. to initiate the re- introduction of the Nepali Language. His inverse feeling of his mother tongue and enforcement of Dzongkha to his kids is utterly disgusting.
Here, in the western world, people encouraged to protect, promote and preserved the culture and language. Government spends the tax payer’s dollars to protect and preserved the language of different ethnic’s population. It is the main agenda of the Federal government in the U.S.
People feel sense of pride and it is the identity of any given community .If the write up is true, the kingdom is reversing back to the Jigmesium (one nation one people policy). The pluralism and the diverse culture of a nation is the wealth and the true sign of civilization and this speaks volume of cultural tolerance of the govt.
It is the fundamental rights of the people to read and write the language of their desire/mother tongue and it is the duty of the government to protect and promote the literature. Where is GNH in Bhutan? If people are not allowed to exercise their cultural right.
Thanks
DB Adhikari
Arizona,US
It is good that he had exposed himself of his inability as a minister. Now world can Judge the mentality of MPs in the functioning in a democratic institution.Still Government of Bhutan claim a democratic country.
Haa…aa.aaa !
Mr. Rai could you please ask your natural mom if you have any what language did she speak and what language you spoke as a first language???
I think your mentality is not is good position as it has to be.
Thanks
Ramesh Ghaley
Australia
Thanks Indra Bhai.This man is nothing more than a puppet.Democracy is pissed off in Bhutan. This man should face the result for what is he doing for Nepali speaking people.
Ha ha ha……
Ha ha ha…
Anch kasto solta racha ho.
Nepali bolda ta kehi hundai na ni….
solta haru pani saaro new khojdo racha kya
IP ji,
This is a good piece of article you have given to the readers exposing the truth on Real freedom of… language,religion ,expressions and so on…..in Bhutan today.
Whole world should have understood the truth/intention of the Bhutan government.Overnight absolute Monarchy was rechristened as Democracy with written constitution.Now jigme Thinley, as the head of a democratic Bhutan is campaining for Gross National Happiness from Brazil,to Thailand,to Japan and now Vermont.These are but few faces of the Bhutanese government to graner support from international communities and keep the prolonged refugee crises at bay.
Now a responsible Minister from the south gave a spit to his own mother.This is all what minister Rai learned/mentored for years from the regime of father Jigme and Thinley.Bhutan government transformed itself from ABSOLUTE monarchy to democracy but the words from the KIng still overpowers the constitution.King is above the constitution.Everyone now can understand the Bhutanese constitution is never people centered,they are ruler centered and meet the previleges of few noble families.Misister Rai will have to pay the price for his expression on nepali language sooner or later.
The Editorial Board,
I don’t understand on earth that you accept such rubbish piece of write up like that of Ghalley guy. People have the freedom to criticize but such rubbish things will defiantly beat the very purpose of this sanctify news site.
I don’t like to comment on his ultra rubbish thing, he himself exposed how vulgar and downtrodden he is.
DB Adhikari
Sir Ramesh Ghalley,
I thank your mother for teaching you to use this langauge.And I am sad to hear by your langauge that you even use your mother and Sister.Keep it up ,god bless you.
Dear editor,
i would appreciate if you could censour the comments so filthy for public view as abobe,one by Ramesh Ghalley,Australia.
I hope you will take immediate measures to control such on the puplic posts.
one day bhutan king step down by puplic then nepali ethinic haruko rajya hunecha yo satya cha.
Hi I P Adhikariji,
You never realized that the ministers representing from Nepali speaking ethnic group in bhutan are playful items. They are just kept in those positions to blind the international communities and pretend that there is democratic representation in Bhutan. They are just the puppets and I have zero expectation of positive ideas from them.
Message: Mr. Adhikari could have been more effective if he had furnished Mr. Rai’s quotes about his opinion explicitly. The analysis on his(Mr. Rai’s) comment would have been more complete and meaningful.
IP Ji it is just a feeble cry of a baby infront of Lion’s roar. Stop it!!! Because small minds discuss people. It indicates our narrowness. So cultivate the habit of discussing event.
Ramesh Ghaley.
(Australia)