As an outsider, these are far far away lands ravaged & lost, but for an insider, their land is alive, breathing & fighting for survival

Language is identity, a thread that strings age-old cultures, traditions and weaves them into this rich, colourful tapestry that speaks volumes and stitches century old stories. Perhaps this is one of the most reasons why Chura Mani Bandhu picked the study of linguistics. A professor, folklore scholar, editor and writer in Nepal, this celebrated littérateur was in town for the SAARC Folklore Festival seminars at CRRID. And we, in between papers and tea, got a chance to share a few notes, of a land lost in the folds of Himalayas, called Nepal. “Very few know that Nepali is not the only language we speak...there are hundreds of dialects in Nepal, and together, they form the Nepali language,” Prof Bandhu adds how it’s the people in the mountains who keep the folklores alive via songs and performances. “There is no money in it, but a pleasure, a sense of belonging and history,” with his roots in a little village, Prof Bandhu often journeys back into the mountains, these days with students, to research and document these treasures. But with the political mayhem lately, things have been difficult and the country has witnessed a lot of brain drain. “You can’t stop children from leaving, but there are groups, NGOs who are trying to retain talent and keep the good things alive,” he’s hopeful and does his bit by writing children’s books and encouraging them to write too. “And then there is love for linguistics and folklore,” he smiles.

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