Gangtok: In an effort to safeguard the linguistic heritage of the Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba met with Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, on December 18 in New Delhi.
Subba urged the Minister to release financial support for the Centre for Endangered Languages (CEL) at Sikkim University, which faces operational challenges due to funding shortages.
Established in 2016 under the University Grants Commission (UGC), CEL has made significant progress in documenting endangered languages, including Bhujel, Magar, Gurung, Sherpa, and Rai-Rokdung.
A key milestone was the creation of the Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalayas Endangered Languages Archive (SiDHELA), India’s first repository dedicated to preserving these linguistic treasures.
Despite its accomplishments, CEL’s activities have stalled due to the cessation of UGC funding, putting its future at risk. Subba emphasized the Centre’s importance and appealed for financial assistance to enable a second phase of research, focusing on additional vulnerable languages in the region.
Dr. Majumdar assured Subba of a thorough review of the matter, expressing optimism about addressing the issue. Subba reaffirmed his commitment to protecting India’s linguistic diversity and ensuring the continuity of CEL’s mission to preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas.
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