LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Language in Politics of Recognition -
A Case of the Nepali Language in the Creation of Political Identity of the Nepalis in Darjeeling

Alina Pradhan, Ph.D.

Nepalis of Darjeeling

Situated in the eastern side of the Himalayas, Darjeeling offers a panoramic view. Tiny it is, but it offers a rich mosaic of people, having different languages, cultures and traditions. It has undergone various changes from being a part of Sikkim earlier to have been given to British India in 1835 to being integrated as a part of Bengal. The people residing here, majority being the Nepalis, have always felt different from Bengal culturally, traditionally, physically and geographically. They have always craved for their own identity and to be known as the Nepalis of Darjeeling, having Indian citizenship and also want to distinguish themselves from the Nepalese of Nepal and also the Bengalis, the majority linguistic group of Bengal.

On Defining Identity vis-à-vis Language, etc.

Before going further, it is necessary to know the meaning of identity. The term identity means a state of being identical. Freud defines identity as the expression of emotional ties with another person or group. In a sociological sense, a person's identity is always with reference to a social group with which she identifies herself.

Identity of a group as such has no meaning. It is only with respect to some other groups that a particular group distinguishes itself and thereby asserts its own identity.

This process can be stimulated by social, economic and political situations. If we see identity in terms of ethnic identity, it is this that provides an individual or group a requisite base for interaction through identification. People tend to identify themselves by the ethnic group to which they belong, rather than by the place from where they come.

Taking this into consideration, people from the same linguistic group have a particular way of identifying themselves with their language rather than region, and speakers of different languages are called outsiders. Language is more important in India being a federation and has different dominant linguistic groups or various marginalized linguistic minority groups. But 'language is not only a symbol to unite groups, but its effective use or abuse can catapult an ethnic movement.'

Language provides a strong bond of unity among its speakers and marks off one speech community from another. It not only is a means of communication but often language can be used as a strong weapon in the achievement of political power.

A situation of conflict may take place between two different language speaking groups and it is mainly because of the insecurity or fear of losing one's linguistic and cultural identity that conflicts take place. In India, various linguistic groups have put forth various demands based on language or ethno-linguistic upheavals, asking for linguistic re-organization of states. For some people, there is an apprehension that their cultural heritage would be lost, once another language becomes official.

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