31st Dec, 2018, I woke up early. This was not any
normal day where my alarm would ring me up at 5 and hurry to get ready for
university. The day was rather a very special day for me. It was 44th
Convocation Day of Tribhuvan University and I was the one of the many thousands
to be standing with black gown and lift my mortarboard on the air. I reached
the venue an hour later, yet programme started an extra hour later. And finally
when it started, the deans of each faculty were ready to take pledge from the
students
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| PC: Google |
The language cannot be taught in the school or at university
alone when there aren’t standardized curriculum, generous faculty members,
enthusiast students and supportive elite communities. I remember how one of my
former colleagues who hailed from Limbu community shared the experiences about
teaching Limbu language in schools of Eastern Nepal. Likewise, Newaris are also
taught in various schools of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
But sadly Gurung language is already into a verge of
extinction even in the remote parts of Nepal which I found this during my work
period at few Gurung villages of Kaski. During the time of baseline survey, the
villagers had named Nepali as their mother tongue even if aged people were
fluent in their own language, but newer generations didn’t bring into practice.
This wasn’t totally true because many of them understood the literal meaning
but had difficulty replying back. This I’d definitely say due to lack of
practice.
Has anyone noticed kids speaking in your neighbourhood ? Few
years back when Cartoon Network completely took over every kid’s life they
spoke nothing but Hindi while kids now have surprisingly wonderful British or
American accent watching different videos on youtube and playing online games.
One thing is clear, our language ability is largely influenced by the time we
devour ourselves on serials, movies or any such entertainment channels too. I remember
myself being an average Gurung speaking boy really enjoyed Gurung movies back
in my childhood days. The stories were impactful, songs were very soothing and
fun listening too. We’d patiently wait for functions or Lhosar party to perform
dances in the popular songs. Which means these movies were not only providing
entertainment but also creating environment for people where they could little
understand and communicate in Gurung among each other.
But these days, despite the tremendous development in technology,
investments are rather made only for production and not on the artists who are
fluent in Gurung and the script that bring forth the real advocacy of prevailing
issues of Gurung communities. What strike me are major plots in the movies which
are shot in Pokhara and the other urban areas only and the medium of
communication is Nepali; sometimes oddly dissatisfying bilingual. I do not see
any instance in how our young generation will learn and carry forward the
legacy of our virgin culture, historical past and incredible identity with the
level of concentration Gurung movie industry is paying heed to.
There was time when the beauty pageants were conducted each
year among girls of particular communities every year. Miss Gurung was no
exception. The pageants which promised of empowering young Gurung girls about our
community and inculcating the sense of responsibility of preserving our
heritage have grounded somewhere or maybe searching avenues for other source of
income generation. I’m appalled how this pageant made contestants introduce
themselves forcibly in our mother tongue and there was immediate sense of
accomplishment. The real theme of agenda ended with the closure of contest and
there was never zeal of introducing bigger change except for making presence
and receiving honours at various programmes of Gurung communities.
For years, I’m also raising voice against Gurung costumes which
have been largely customized blatantly without realizing the consequences. The
dress for ladies include Cholo, Kramu, Patuka, Lungi, Ghalek, Tiki and some
specific ornaments. But one can see in the streets of valleys and around girls
shamelessly putting on flashy blouses (backless, sleeveless etc), lungis that
are too flashy like the dresses worn in dance bars, also lungis are custom
tailored into gowns, ghaleks deeply embroidered like Indian lehengas and
sarees. I can’t criticize on someone’s visual and particular interests and
effort in bringing fusion but to abruptly bring changes in our uniquely
designed dresses not only obstructs our social identity but these have rather
made our dresses look more vulgar and less attractive. Similarly, we can’t
encourage dresses to people which avoid comfort. Male dresses of Gurungs are
the same. While most of the boys of other ethnic groups have Daura Surwal our
ones are Bhangra , Bhoto and Kachhad and Kachhad is not really comfortable
clothing. It is neither weather friendly too. But often in many wedding season
these days where the trend of wearing ethnic dresses have come into practice,
while Brides wear Gurung dress, grooms are basically seen in Daura Surwal. Of
course, national costume cannot be ignored but to wear two different unmatching
dresses don’t bring realm towards our ethnic group.
Therefore, as much as modernization has brought huge transformation
in human lives, I’m skeptical of depletion of our heritage and the day where
identity might be seen or read only in museums and libraries or not even that.
The dresses can be remade and the heritage maybe built later too, but if we do
not preach young children our mother tongue and create a curriculum, add
literary books, the elite cannot be extended. It is now in the hands of youths
and surviving Gurung intellectuals who need to devote more time and effort on
these areas apart from partying all round the year and making too many samaj
ghars.
