Introduction of the Lepcha Language in the Government Primary Schools in the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal for the Lepcha Children.

       

The Government of West Bengal, School Education Department (Elementary Education Branch) Notification No- 1099 – SE (EE) 107 – 147/ 2010 dated 13 November  2013  is enclosed at pages 11 and 12 to this issue of Aachuley for your information.

The Lepchas of West Bengal are delighted and thrilled that their very rich and ancient Language is finally being introduced with effect from the new session 2014 in the Darjeeling Hills under the administrative control of District School Board, Darjeeling; we achieved this after very long and hard struggles.

The Lepcha firmly believe that through the introduction of Lepcha language in the Government Schools not only the very rich and ancient Lepcha culture and traditions will be preserved, we are confident, it will also flourish. Above all, the Lepcha children will very much enjoy and do very well in quest of their education.

The Lepchas of West Bengal are very grateful to the following in particular for their unfailing support in achieving the goal, introduction of the Lepcha language in the Government Primary Schools in the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal for the Lepcha children:

a. The National Commission of Scheduled Tribes,
Government of India, New Delhi.
b. The Linguistic Minorities
Government of India (Allahabad and Kolkata)
c. The Central Institute of Indian Languages,
Government of India, Mysore.
d. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata
e. Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata.
f. University of Delhi.
g. Hon’ble Shri M.K. Narayanan,the Governor of West Bengal.
h. And many well wishers of the Lepchas of West Bengal.

A special thank you to Renyoo Mamata Banerjee, Kingchoom Daarmit, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of West Bengal for her firm political will to introduce the Lepcha language in the Darjeeling Hills. Aachuley to you, Renyoo! You all help to save the Lepcha community and their language, literature, culture and civilization from being wiped out from the Darjeeling Hills,West Bengal.

In the Constitution of India under the heading, “Safeguard for Linguistic Minorities” Articles  29,30 ,350 A, it is very clearly written and stated that a minority race with a distinct language, script and culture of its own shall have the right to conserve it and shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The State and Local Authority within the State shall provide facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the Primary state of Education to the children belonging to the minority groups; the President of India may issue such directions to any State as he considers necessary or proper for securing the provision of such facilities.

The Lepchas of West Bengal hope that the Local Authority will certainly respect the Constitution of India,  Articles 29, 30 and 350A.

Congratulations to the Lepchas for achieving their very rich and ancient language being recognized and introduced in the Government Primary Schools in the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal, with effect from the new session 2014.


Khat paa!




A Senior Correspondent