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”
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