Editorial

It has come to our knowledge that Bhanu Day has lately been observed in some places where the Bhutanese have been resettling. None of the Bhutanese electronic media has brought out the news on the subject of Bhanu Jayanti celebration in Bhutan and Nepal by the Bhutanese. It can, for that reason, be concluded that there has not been such commemoration or there is no media coverage in those places.

In that we have been straining our nerves in advocating for the preservation and promotion of our language and letters, our attention has profoundly been arrested by an article in the Kantipur, a national daily of Nepal . The article was under the opinion/analysis column and headline: Bhasik Aakraman Viruddha (against linguistic assault). The article was by one of our fellow journalists, Mr I.P. Adhikari. In the write-up, he has painted how Nepali language in Bhutan is heading towards the verge of extinction. He states, “ The ones engaged in the movement of Nepali language and literature are busy in celebrating Bhanu Jayanti, Laxmi Jayanti, book release, commentary and speech. Language cannot be developed simply by describing Ramayana. Worshipping the statue of Bhanu Bhakta before Rani Pokhari or his portrait elsewhere is not real reverence to him. A condition should be created in which this language can bloom in the land where it had laid the foundation in addition to spreading out the pool of Nepali language and literature for his veneration.” Mr. Adhikari cries indignantly and challenges the concerned.

We have not launched this crusade without being familiar to the pathetic condition of Nepali language inside Bhutan. We have been trying our best to have someone in our team from inside Bhutan so as to keep abreast of what is going on in there in regards to our language. It’s not that we rest on our laurels. We take this challenge merrily as a guide towards our mission. This has pepped up our zeal and has the strength of our mind heightened. Missions met without doggedly confronting challenges do not taste yummy and luscious. This gives a pat on our back to walk around for more findings about the situation of Nepali language in our country. We always look forward to such write-ups from Mr. Adhikari and the like in the days to come to pull us for in this age of information, no movement can have its mission fulfilled devoid of the company of journalists. In our fashion of sensing things, we appreciate that it is the ethical obligation not only of the linguistic and literary leaders but also of the journalists to underline such issues in their walk of life. In fact, even if the aforementioned leaders are strong enough in themselves to strive against the injustice they are still feebler than the journalists as they can highlight the nasty game RGOB has been playing against us and draw the world’s eyes towards it.

Editors

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