Raju Bista calls for unity in preserving Nepali language and identity on Bhasha Samman Diwas

On the occasion of Bhasha Samman Diwas 2025, Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and BJP National Spokesperson Raju Bista extended heartfelt congratulations and warm wishes to the Gorkha community across India. The day, which marks the historic recognition of the Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 1992, was observed with deep respect and renewed commitment towards safeguarding linguistic identity.

Bista, in his message, reminded the community of the sacrifices made by countless individuals who fought for the recognition of Nepali as one of India’s constitutional languages. He bowed in respect to the creators, writers, intellectuals, and cultural activists who worked tirelessly for decades to enrich the language and take the voice of Nepali speakers to the national stage. “Language is our life, if the language survives, the community survives,” he emphasized.

The MP recalled how the struggle for recognition was not confined to political stages alone but was carried forward from homes, villages, and local communities, eventually building into a powerful nationwide movement. The recognition of 1992, he said, was not just a legal victory but also a moment of pride and identity for every Indian Gorkha.

While celebrating the progress made in the last three decades, Bista also expressed concern over recent incidents in Sikkim and Darjeeling where attempts were made to undermine the Nepali language. He described such actions as “objectionable and condemnable,” stressing that attacks on language were attacks on identity and existence itself.

He urged the present generation to take responsibility for protecting the constitutional recognition achieved through the farsightedness and sacrifices of earlier language fighters. “It is our duty to preserve and strengthen the recognition of our mother tongue Nepali, and to ensure it grows and spreads further,” he said.

The MP also expressed gratitude to the many writers, poets, journalists, and cultural figures who have enriched Nepali literature and kept the language alive and thriving in India. Their contribution, he said, has ensured that Nepali continues to remain a language of dignity, culture, and unity.

As Bhasha Samman Diwas was observed with pride, Bista called on all Gorkhas to stand united in protecting their linguistic and cultural identity. He urged everyone to take a pledge to make the Nepali language more powerful and more widespread, so that future generations carry forward the legacy with the same strength and passion as the elders.