From Homesickness to Identity
This past
week, we were invited to discuss ‘Contemporary Trends in Eastern Himalayan
Languages’ in the Purvodaya Literature Festival held in Kolakata. We kept our
discourse limited to the trends seen in our part of the eastern Himalayas. As
chair of the session, I shared the following:
There are
two aspects to consider here - the contemporary trends seen in the
languages used for everyday communication and those employed in refined
literary and intellectual expression. The former consists of a simpler form of
language shaped by migration, education, and
socio-political dynamics, while the latter represents linguistic sophistication
in literature, poetry, and scholarly discourse, often influenced by historical
prestige, institutional backing, and cultural identity. I would like to touch
upon a few significant points:
First, the
linguistic dilemma faced by the younger generation is particularly pressing.
They must navigate the pressing demands of preserving their native language to
maintain their cultural identity and embracing a global language for better
career opportunities. This challenge places them at a pivotal crossroads,
mirroring the broader global struggle to balance multilingual policies that
uphold cultural heritage while fostering international integration. They
find themselves at a unique crossroads in an era where the world struggles to
balance multilingual policies for cultural preservation and global integration.
Secondly, the
revival of ethnic languages in the Eastern Himalayas is an emerging dynamic.
Many endangered languages are being revitalized, with Sikkim serving as a prime
example. Sikkim has experienced two
waves of revival, the most recent in 1995. Efforts to restore marginalized
ethnic languages as identity markers face challenges from dominant state
languages while also grappling with the demand for global linguistic
competence. Additionally, political tensions, both implicit and overt, arise as
different parties prioritize linguistic policies differently. Two immediate
positive outcomes of this revival have been the creation of teaching positions
and renewed research into forgotten traditions and cultures.
Thirdly, the
influence of Christian missionaries on Eastern Himalayan languages has been
remarkable. They played a major role in standardizing oral languages, producing
literature, and making it accessible at the grassroots level, thereby shaping
linguistic shifts. Their emphasis on regional tongues has left a lasting
imprint on literature and education. Among Indian Nepalis in the hills, this
legacy traces back to Padari Ganga Prasad Pradhan and continues to this day.
Fourthly, an
awareness of the limitations of regional languages has led to a realization
that telling our stories in our own tongue is often preaching to the converted,
resonating only with those who are already culturally invested. As a result,
many writers and intellectuals have shifted towards expressing their narratives
in English, for wider accessibility and global reach. This transition, while
expanding the audience, also raises concerns about the dilution of linguistic
heritage and the gradual erosion of indigenous literary traditions.
Finally, a significant shift has been observed in the thematic
concerns of writers from the Darjeeling hills. Earlier, their literary works
were predominantly shaped by homesickness and nostalgia, deeply tied to their
cultural and historical connections with Nepal. This longing for a lost
homeland must be understood within its historical context. During the formation
of the Republic of India, the socio-cultural and geopolitical recalibration of
the region led to a permanent separation, dividing people who had once shared a
common heritage into two distinct sovereign nations—India and Nepal. This
rupture created a deep sense of alienation, which found its expression in
literature through themes of displacement and longing.
However, contemporary hill writers have moved away from this
nostalgic sentiment, shifting their focus toward the theme of identity. The
demand for Gorkhaland has emerged as the dominant literary and political motif,
reflecting a quest for recognition rather than a yearning for the past.
Homesickness and nostalgia, once central themes, have been largely overcome as
they were often misinterpreted by fellow Indian citizens as a sign of divided
loyalties. In response, modern hill literature is increasingly assertive,
emphasizing political identity, cultural distinctiveness, and the right to
self-determination.
Writers, such as Indra Bahadur Rai, initially explored the themes
of existential crisis and displacement. However, the contemporary voice, Kumar
Pradhan, found it wanting and started engaging with the political consciousness
of the Gorkhas. This reflected an
evolution from nostalgia to assertion, academic engagement and perhaps
mobilization at an intellectual level, which I would like to call an activism
in a positive sense. This shift signifies a broader change in the
self-perception of the hill people - from a displaced community yearning for a
lost homeland to a politically aware population striving for self-recognition
within India. In this Dr Pradhan was a bridge between the two generations of
writers.
However, this
intense focus on identity has come at a cost, namely the constriction of
literary exploration. With intellectual and creative energies consumed by the
fight for recognition, writers and thinkers in the region often find themselves
with little bandwidth left to engage with the broader, more universal themes of
human experience. The pursuit of political and cultural identity, though
crucial, has inadvertently limited the space for deeper literary inquiries into
existential, philosophical, and global concerns. Such a trend, I am afraid, has
been confining our creativity within the boundaries of activism.
“Writers, such as Indra Bahadur Rai, initially
explored the themes of existential crisis and displacement. However, the
contemporary voice, Kumar Pradhan, found it wanting and started engaging with
the political consciousness of the Gorkhas.
This reflected an evolution from nostalgia to assertion, academic engagement
and perhaps mobilization at an intellectual level”
jiwanr@gmail.com
