Are We Reading
and Growing?
Part II
However, the situation may have been terrible but not hopeless. The post agitation era has
shown some promise in the field of literature. Some prominent authors survived
the onslaught of the impact of the agitation. The enduring legacies of the
eminent writers such as IB Rai, Parijat, Shiv Kumar Rai, Man Bahadur Gurung,
Lakhi Devi Sundas, Ramlal, Adhikari, Guman Singh Chamling, Man Prasad Subba,
Sharad Chettri, MM Gurung, Bhaichand Pradhan, Gupta Pradhan, Norzang Shyangden,
Jiwan Namdung, Mohan Thakur, B. Chandra Pradhan, Udai Subba Gorkha, Naresh
Chandra Khati, Jas Yonzon Pyasi, Krishna Raj Ghatani (the list is neither
exhaustive nor chronological) persisted. Newer generations kept the literary
fires burning against the dampening impact of the agitation. It’s no wonder then that the Darjeeling-Kalimpong hills have
given rise to some of the most accomplished contemporary authors writing in the
Nepali language.
Undertaking
a comprehensive survey of the extent and depth of vernacular readership in the
hills would be an useful endeavor. While English readership is undoubtedly
growing, my intuition suggests that vernacular readership remains confined to a
narrow circle of literature enthusiasts, including students, teachers, and
authors. What is more, the
vernacular readership is all set to go downhill from where it is today. One of
the many reasons is the massive exodus of students from vernacular-medium
schools to English medium schools across the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Government primary schools where the medium of instruction is Nepali are
virtually empty. The irresistible appeal of
English-medium schools is unfortunately eroding students’ proficiency in their
native language. Initially, their lack of interest in Nepali language and
literature will diminish the readership that Nepali literature rightfully deserves.
However, over the course of a few generations, this trend may lead to the
erosion of their linguistic identity, eventually resulting in a scarcity of
authors writing in Nepali.
Despite
Nepali being the lingua franca in Sikkim for several decades, the state is
officially multilingual, with English as the medium of instruction in both
government and private schools. The dominance of English has not only stunted the growth of
local languages but the lack of proficient teaching of the English language,
has also impeded Sikkim’s progress in achieving proficiency in the English
language. Sikkim, in this regard, faces a significantly unique challenge due to
its lack of proficiency in any single language. Despite these odds, Sikkim has witnessed the emergence of several
writers, particularly in Nepali.
Apatan Sahitya Parisad, founded on 15 April 1947, has been one of the
most remarkable milestones in Sikkim’s literary history. APaTaN was a joint
effort by Agam Singh Tamang, Padam Singh Subba, Tulsi Bahadur Chettri and Nima
Wangdi Lepcha, all eminent poets from Sikkim. The contributions made by Sanu
Lama, Tulsiram Sharma Kashyap, Mahananda Poudyal, Girmi Sherpa, Rajendra
Bhandari, Kedar Gurung, Upaman Basnet, Raghunand Sapkota, Bhima Dahal, Sumiran
Chettri Priyadarshi, Pawan Chamling Kiran, Sanubhai Sharma, Ghanashyam Nepal,
Purna Rai, Virbhadra Karkidholi, Radha Krishna Sharma, Sobhakanti Thegim
Lepcha, Rudra Poudyal, Dhruba Lohaga, Kalusingh Ranapaheli, Pradyumna Shrestha,
Prabin Jumeli, Santosh Alley, TB Chandra Subba, Amar Baaniyaa Lohoro, Purna
Yonzon and so on. (The list is not exhaustive and chronological) have played a
vital role in spotlighting Sikkim’s engagement with Nepali literature. Subhash
Deepak has contributed hugely in translating the literary works. The impact
their writings had in terms of fostering readership is a matter to be surveyed.
Again, my hunch is that the Sikkimese reading culture never picked up to a
level where it could be lauded.
Moreover, in recent years, Sikkim has witnessed the emergence of a
generation which is in no mood to touch base with Nepali literature. Hundreds
of young Nepali speakers proudly express their shamelessness in their waning
proficiency in the Nepali language. Nepali readership doesn’t look promising in
the state.
Notwithstanding this discouraging trend, there are two encouraging
developments taking place in Sikkim presently, namely the emergence of writers
in English and indigenous languages. Several English novels and story
collections have been published by Sikkim writers in recent years. Prajwal
Parajuly’s ‘The Gurkha’s Daughter’ has been one of the most talked about novels
nationally. In terms of generating local readership, Pankaj Giri’s ‘The Fragile
Thread of Hope’ has been arguably the most successful Sikkimese novel. Guru T
Ladakhi, Chetan Raj Shrestha, Parshu Dahal, Ashim Basnett, Nikhil Pradhan,
Narsing Nirzat and Satyadeep S. Chettri have published books in English. (The
list is not comprehensive). However, the penetration of their works in the
state readership remains a subject of survey. Overall, the English readership,
feeding upon the works of foreign best sellers, is growing in Sikkim but for
now but it is limited to an exclusive group. Also, the sale of English classic
books for kids in Rachana, a local book shop in Gangtok is promising.
Sikkim has also been a center for language and literature development of
many ethnic indigenous languages. The Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo languages have
made tremendous progress. Trailing behind are other ethnic languages like
Manger, Tamang, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Sunuwar and Gurung. These languages have a
long way to go before they eventually generate readership among their language
group.
The twin hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim have a daunting task to foster a
vernacular reading culture. Globally, with the onslaught of an overabundance of
e-entertainment, a reading culture is dwindling at an unprecedented rate. The
future doesn’t look promising. But with the emergence of gritty writers
locally, there is a silver lining which does give us hope. Looking at the
present global trend, readership has mostly been governed by the quality of
content and the style of writing. But in Darjeeling and Sikkim, the problem is
more complicated than that owing to the loss of interest in the vernacular
language among native speakers. Much will depend on how the hill vernacular
authors will reach out to their readers who are losing the very grip on their
mother tongue.
In conclusion, the Hill’s reading habits have a strange irony. The hill
people’s declining ability to read vernacular books is distancing them from
their ability to write and read their own stories in the language of their
soul. On the other hand, English readership gaining ground is also doing the
same thing in another way. Even when the reading culture blossoms here, the
Hill people will ultimately be bridging themselves with the humanities through
a language that is not their own.
(Concluded)
