Gangtok: In a significant move to champion linguistic diversity and cultural preservation, Sikkim Member of Parliament Indra Hang Subba has formally appealed to the Union Ministry of Education to reintroduce Rai, Sherpa, Tamang, and Gurung languages as optional second vernacular subjects for CBSE Classes XI and XII. This renewed push follows a collective representation from four prominent community organizations in Sikkim: the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Denjong Sherpa Association, Sikkim Tamang Buddhist Association, and All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association.
Dr. Subba recently held crucial meetings with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Parliament House and Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar at his residence, underscoring the pressing cultural, constitutional, and educational imperatives behind his appeal.
This persistent advocacy comes after the Ministry’s earlier rejection of the proposal, communicated through a letter dated December 20, 2024. In his re-submission, Dr. Subba emphatically urged the Ministry to reconsider its stance, highlighting that these vital indigenous languages, already part of the curriculum in Classes IX and X, are essential for academic continuity and the safeguarding of linguistic heritage.
“Removing these languages from the senior secondary curriculum disrupts the learning trajectory and undermines our communities’ efforts to safeguard their linguistic heritage,” Dr. Subba asserted, stressing the profound impact of such a decision.
He further underscored that the inclusion of these languages aligns seamlessly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which champions multilingual education and the integration of regional and indigenous languages into mainstream academics. Dr. Subba also assured the Ministry that the demand is entirely logistically feasible, requiring no additional resources or exam days, as these languages would simply augment the existing suite of second-language options.
Invoking Article 29 of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards the cultural and educational rights of minorities, Dr. Subba stated that acceding to this request would powerfully demonstrate the Union Government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education for all.
The MP has called upon the Ministry to instruct CBSE to implement these changes starting from the 2025–26 academic session, especially in schools where a clear demand from students has been established. He also urged for the swift issuance of a definitive timeline for the implementation process.
Read More: Guwahati’s ‘Each One Reach One’ Mentorship Transforms Kendriya Vidyalaya Students