Thapa renews push for Nepali signboards across GTA

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING, : On the concluding day of the 10-day celebration of the 34th Bhasa Diwas, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Anit Thapa once again emphasized the importance of using Nepali language on signboards across the GTA region. He also urged social organizations to step forward and support the initiative.

Thapa has been consistently advocating for signboards of offices and shops in the hills to include Nepali language alongside English, and the GTA had issued a notification on this some months ago. However, except for a few GTA offices that have complied, the implementation remains limited.

“The recognition of our language in the Indian Constitution is a matter of great pride and identity for us as Indians. I have repeatedly stressed the need for signboards in Nepali in our area, but the effort hasn't been fully realized yet,” said Thapa while speaking at the closing ceremony at Gorkha Ranga Manch here on Sunday.

He added, “While I could enforce it strictly, I believe that if people adopt it willingly, the change will be more lasting. However, if needed, we can approach it tactfully.” Thapa also urged civic bodies to ensure shopkeepers follow the directive and warned that trade licenses could be revoked for non-compliance.

Thapa suggested that resistance to the idea may stem from political reasons. "Maybe it’s not being implemented because the request came from a political party, and people don’t want to give credit to that party,” he remarked. “To address this, I will soon call a meeting with various social organizations and entrust them with the responsibility. It took a long struggle for Nepali to gain constitutional recognition, and we must honor that.”

The closing ceremony featured a vibrant cultural ‘shobha yatra’, which started from near Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan, passed through town, and culminated at Gorkha Ranga Manch. A cultural program followed, with traditional songs and dances.

Notably, CPRM leader and former Darjeeling MP R.B. Rai was conferred the Bhasha Sewa Samman Puraskar for his contributions to the constitutional recognition of the Nepali language.

The 10-day Bhasa Diwas celebrations, which began on August 20, included a six-day ethnic food festival at Darjeeling Chowrasta, a debate competition for school students, and other programs. The events were organized by the GTA Information and Cultural department, in collaboration with various local organizations.

It may be recalled that after a prolonged movement known as the Bhasa Andolan, Nepali language was officially included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution on August 20, 1992.