To preserve their native language, the Gurung community in Chitwan has taken significant steps toward language preservation by developing educational materials. The Tamuhyul Chhoj Dhin Gurung National Council, a shared organization representing the Gurung community, is set to publish a textbook aimed at teaching the Gurung language.
Bimaladevi Gurung, Chairperson of the Council, explained that the initiative is a response to the gradual loss of the Gurung language within the community. “Last year, we conducted a 15-day language class, and now, to provide continuity, we are preparing to publish a textbook to support language classes this year,” she said.
According to the 2021 National Census, the Gurung population in Chitwan is 49,827. However, it is unclear what percentage of the population still speaks the language. “Language skills have been declining in recent years, and training is essential to pass the language on to future generations,” noted Chairperson Gurung.
Krishna Bahadur Gurung, Senior Vice President of the Council and coordinator of the Gurung language class program shared that last year’s class was only held in Bharatpur. However, this year, the classes will be expanded to Ratnanagar and Ichhakamana as well. “We are preparing a textbook that will cover basic language knowledge to make it easier for those interested in learning,” he said, adding that the printing process is in its final stages.
Kishor Gurung, a member of the textbook publication committee, shared that the textbook is nearly ready for distribution. “Even if it’s just at the basic level, publishing a book locally will greatly contribute to the preservation and promotion of the language,” he said. The committee views this as a critical task for ensuring the language’s survival for future generations.
Although the Gurung language has its script, known as Khema, the classes will initially be conducted using the Nepali script. “The Khema script is nearly forgotten, and even those who speak the language may need to relearn the script,” noted Kishor Gurung. “While we have plans to teach Khema, it is a complex task. Therefore, we will first conduct classes using the Nepali script.”
Gurungs in Chitwan, particularly the indigenous population, are increasingly losing proficiency in their language. The risk of the language disappearing is growing as more community members forget it, particularly those who have relocated from other districts.
The efforts by the Gurung National Council to publish textbooks and expand language classes aim to reverse this trend and ensure the survival of the Gurung language for generations to come.
