Languages of Nepal

Language occupies a central role in human self-expression, interpersonal communication, activity, and identity. Language is a medium of expression or feelings. The mother tongues enumerated in the census of 2011 (except Kusunda) belong to four language families:

  • Indo-European: - Indo-Aryan subfamily, constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1%.
  • Tibeto-Burman: - Though spoken by relatively less number of people (17.3%), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages.
  • Austro-Asiatic – it rank third at 0.19%.
  • Dravidian: - It fourth at 0.13%,

Kusunda (28 speakers) is a language isolate consisting of a single language without any genetic relationship with other languages. There are 123 languages in the census of 2011 in Nepal. Of them 19 are ‘major’ languages: Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang, Newari, Bajjika, Magar, Doteli, Urdu, Avadhi, Limbu, Gurung , Baitadeli ,Rai , Achhami, Bantawa, Rajbanshi and Sherpa (spoken by more than 100,000 population) and their cumulative percentage of the population is 96%. Inversely, the remaining 104 + languages are spoken by about 4% of Nepal’s total population and may be deemed endangered in different degrees.

Nepali language and Literature

Nepali, spoken by 44.6% of Nepal’s total population, is the largest language in terms of the number of speakers in all the censuses. It is spoken across the country; however, it is not evenly distributed throughout. There are different literary creations in Nepali language. The development of Nepali literature can be divided in to three phases which are as follows:

  • Primary period (1940 BS): - It was the period of writing in Nepali literature. Different literary books were written during this period. It is the period before the poet Motiram Bhatta. Patanjali Gajurel, Basanta sharma, Yasunath pokhrel, Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, Dildas etc. major contributors in Nepali Literatures. Badhu Sikshya, Prashnottari, Ramayn, Tanahu Bhakundo, Hasya Kadamba, in Nepali are major contributions of this period in the Nepali literature.
  • Medieval Period (1940 to 1990 BS): - It was the period of publication in the history of Nepali literature. Being a period of Rana, it was also dark period for the development of Nepali Literature. Moti Ram Bhatta who wrote Manodweg Prabha, Panchak, prapanchak and Teejko Katha, Pik dut, Shakuntala ( drama), Priya Darshika, Padmawoti etc. ,
  • Krishna prasad Regmi: Mahabharat Adi parva, Biraha Lahari and Pravawoti Charitara, etc,
  • Chakra pani Chalise: - Nepali Samchhipta Ramayan, Jaiminiya Bharatiya, Sahitya Mimamsa, Hitashi Nepali Shabdakosh etc.
  • Shambhu Prasad Dhungel: - Gafa sindhu, Chandrapratap Barnan, Chndra badana, Ratnawali (drama) Ashoka sundari Natika etc.
  • Kul chandra Gautam: Amarkosh, Alankar chandrodaya, etc.
  • Kabi siromani Lekhanath Poudel: - Shok prabhah, Ritu Bichar, Buddhibinod, Taruntapasi,  Lalitya part I and II etc.
  • Balkrishna Sama: - Mutuko Byatha, Dhrba, Andhabeg, Prempinda, Chiso Chulo, etc.

Modern Period (1990 BS onward;

  • Laxmi prasad Devkota: - Pahadi pukar, Putali, Bhikahari, Aakash Bolchha, Munamadan, Rajkumar Prabhakar, Kunjini, Sita haran, Sabitri satyawan ( drama), Laxmi Nibandha Sangrah, Dadimko Rukhnera etc.
  • Bhimnidhi Tiwari: - Sahanshila Sushila, Kashibas, Matoko Maya, Satya harischandra, etc.
  • Satyamohan Joshi: - Nepali lokgeet, Hamro Lok sanskriti, Krantika Laharharu, Pharkera herda, etc.
  • Bhawani Bhikshu: - Gunakeshari, Maiyan Shaheb, Abbarta, etc.
  • Siddhicharan Shrestha: - Kopila, Kuhiro ra Gham, Mero pratibimba, Banchiraheko Aawaj, Yuddha ra Shanti etc.
  • Gopal Prasd Rimal: - Aamako Sapana (poem), Mashan, Yo Prem (drama), etc.
  • Dayaman Shamser Rana: - Basanti, Seto Bhagh, etc.
  • Madhav Prasad Ghimire: - Gauri, Rajeshwori, Rastra Nirmata, Papini Aama, Malati Mangale, Bishakanya, etc.
  • Shankar Lamichhane: - Gauthaliko Gudn, Goduli Sansar, Abstract Chintan Pyaj, etc
  • Devkumari Thapa: - Ekadashi, Seto Biralo, Tapari, etc.
  • Parijaat: - Shirishko Ful, etc.
  • Shrawan Mukarung: Yalambar, Bishenagarchiko Katha,
  • Rajan mukarung: Damini Bhir, etc

Newari Language and Literatrure

Newari language falls under Tibeto-Burman language Family. Newar is another language of Nepal and total speaker of this language are 846,557 (3.20%). Kedarman Byathit (Chhwasa:), Purna Bahadur Baidha ( Sarasu), Dhuswan Sayami ( Gamki) , Ramshekhar ( Naasfa: Gucho), Ishornanda Shrestha (hyanayak), Nisthanada Bajracharya (Laitbistara) etc are major contributor in the development of Newari literatrure.

Maithili Language and literaure

Maithili is spoken by 11.7% of the population and ranks first in the Terai and second (i.e. next to Nepali) in the national context. Its core area are the 6 districts of the eastern and central Terai (Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, and Sarlahi) while it occupies second position in Morang and Nawalparasi, and is also spoken significantly in the four central Tarai districts (Rautahat, Bara, Parsa and Rupandehi). Bidhyapati is the greatest poet of Maithili literature. Parijat Haran of Umapati, Gorkha Vijaya of Gopi chandra, Gaya of Maganiram Jaha etc were major Literary pieces of Maithili literature.