Revival of Kirat people language - Ancient language of Nepal

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• published: 04 Dec 2013
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This video is of Kirat people trying to save their remaining culture and language from extinction. Introduction: The Chamling language is one of the languages of the ancient Kirat people, which existed well before the arrival of Vedic civilization in South Asia. Chamling is one of the 32 Kiranti languages spoken by the Rai peoples of eastern Nepal. Chamling language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Historical Background of Rai: The Rai belong to the Kirati group or the Kirat confederation that includes Limbu, Sunuwar, Yakkha, Dhimal and many Mongoloid ethnic groups of Nepal. Within Rai: The Rai people are divided into many different sub-groups also known as clan namely • Bantawa, • Chamling, • Sampang, • Dumi, • Jerung, • Kulung, • Khaling, • Lohorung, • Mewahang, • Rakhali, • Thulung, • Tamla, • Tilung, • Sunuwar, • Wahaling, • Wambule, • Yakkha, • Yamphu, • Jero (Jerung,) • Puma, • Syangbo and many other others. There are more than 32 recognized and distinct Rai dialects, which fall within the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. Their languages are Pronominalised Tibeto-Burman languages, indicating their antiquity. The oral language is rich and ancient, as is Kirati history, but the written script remains yet to be properly organized as nearly all traces of it were destroyed by the following rulers of Nepal, the Lichhavis and almost eradicated by the Shah dynasty. With that this video is of Chamling Rai. The Chamling are an ethnic group, belonging to one among the many branches of the ancient Kirat or Kiratis. They have their own language, culture and tradition, religious rituals (existing in oral incantation and transferred from generation to generation), history (unwritten) and ancestral land of origin. The traditional place of Chamling is Khotang district, which is situated in the East Hill Region of the country. At present they are found in other districts as well like in Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Siraha, Saptari, Bhojpur, Sankhusabha, Teplenjung, Pachthar, Illam, Therathum, Dhankuta, Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa. They are also found in Darjeeling, Aasham, West Bengal, Sikkim, Mijuram, Arunaanchal of India and Myanmar. The Kirat Chamling mother tongue speakers are estimated at about 60,000 as per the census of 2001 whereas the total population is estimated at about 300,000. The indigenous Chamling language has been originated from Majhuya and near Haleshi of Khotang district of Nepal and spoken in the community but not recognized as an official language. The indigenous lingual, cultural identity has been found under crises in these days. This is because, lack of the governments concern for developing indigenous languages. In addition Kirat Chamling has a dignified and honorable history in Nepalese history prior to so called unification and modernization of the Nepal but now they are marginalized and disadvantaged from the mainstream of national development. Their specific and diverse culture has almost been extinct and will completely be devastated if not protected immediately. Today, like many other Kirati languages, Chamling is an endangered language.