With the implementation of federalism in Nepal, there has been debate and commentary on its positive and negative aspects. Among the positive aspects, the beautiful thing that federalism has provided is the unhindered use and expansion of scripts along with the mother tongue! In this country where 124 languages ​​are spoken, more than a dozen scripts are in use. Therefore, Nepal is not only a multilingual country, but also a country with multiple scripts.

‘Script’ in the general sense is a system of writing letters. ‘A letter’ is a whole sound or sound group with or without consonants. However, if we look at it in a specific sense, a script not only gives a permanent form to a language, but also carries history, culture and identity.

When did script begin? It is not easy to say. Based on the pictures, inscriptions, column inscriptions, etc. written in caves and dens in prehistoric times, scriptologists have estimated that the origin of script began around 4000 BC, i.e. about 6,000 years before today. Initially, the development of script seems to have started from pictures. In ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq, Kuwait), the Sumerians started the cursive ‘cuneiform’ script.

It was used to write lines of triangular marks on clay and to record transactions. After this, pictographs were developed. Elaborate pictures were drawn to express emotions. The script of this stage is also called emotional script. Then, lines that convey meaning were developed. It is customary to study the development of these three stages of script under the first group of verbal scripts. In verbal scripts, the meaning of an entire word is represented through a picture or sign. 1,2,3, which are still used today, are examples of verbal scripts.

The system of writing letters is a script. Scripts not only provide a permanent form to the language, they also contain history, culture and identity. These are not just technical matters, they are the threads that connect the past, present and future, they are also the ‘DNA’ of culture. Ancient Egyptian and Chinese Mandarin are scripts under verbal scripts. After verbal scripts, the second stage was the development of letter scripts. Each letter is a unit smaller than a word and larger than a character. Each letter has a meaning based on a single character. Katakana and Hiragana scripts used in Japanese are considered scripts under this category. The third is the alphabetic script. This script is believed to have been developed around the third century BC. It has more than one character. For example, ‘K’ has two ‘K+A’, while ‘Tr’ has ‘T+R+A’.

Most of the scripts developed in the Indian subcontinent belong to this. The forms of Devanagari, Gurmukhi, Tamil, Bengali, Sambhota, Kaithi, Ranjana, Kirat Sirijanga scripts used in Nepal fall under this category. The fourth type of script is Varna script. In this script, the vowels are complete and the vowels are not used. This script does not have a decodable top when writing words.

Latin, Roman, Arabic, etc. are the scripts under this. The fifth is the phonetic script. A sound is considered the smallest unit of language. A phonetic script represents a meaningful pronunciation sound. From a linguistic point of view, this script, which was created to record the languages ​​of the world, is called the International Phonetic Alphabet.

The relationship between language and script

Although language and script are interconnected, there is a fundamental difference in the same way. If language is an object, then script is a means. If language is natural, then script is artificial. Script can be created, but language cannot. Even though artificial languages ​​like ‘Bhola, Ido, Esperanto’ were created, those languages ​​could not come into use.

Multilingual Nepal has three ethno-linguistic structures, including one caste, one language, many castes, one language, and many languages, one caste. Scripts can also be divided into three groups: one language, one script, one language, many scripts, and many languages, one script. First, the ‘Rong’ script and the Lepcha community that uses this script can be taken as one language, one script. Second, Tamang can be taken as one language, many scripts. The Tamang community has been using three types of scripts, namely Devanagari, Sambhota, and Tamayig.

Gurung (Tamu) also falls under this group. Because Gurungs use Khema, Roman, and Devanagari scripts. Newa: Nine scripts are used to write the language: Ranjana, Prabhava, Kutakshar, Bhujimol, Kummol, Quemol, Golmol, Panchumol, Himmol, and Litumol (Hemraj Shakya, 2030). Despite this, Nepali is also written in the Devanagari script. The third is – many languages, one script. An example of this is the Devanagari script. This script is used for more than 200 languages. Similarly, the Arabic script is used by Urdu, Pashto, and Kurds, while the Bengali script is also used by many linguistic communities. This confirms that a language does not always have its own script as soon as it is created.

Scripts that came into use

Some scripts in use in Nepal are limited to a specific historical period, some are still in use, and some were created only a few decades ago. Script researcher Kashinath Tamot (2074) argues that the scripts developed in Nepal were developed under the influence of the Ashoka-Brahmi script. Local variations began to appear in the Kutila script prevalent in the eastern and northeastern regions of India around the 8th-10th centuries. These variations gave rise to modern scripts. Wherever these scripts took local forms, they were known by the names of the places where they were written. In this way, the script developed in Bengal-Gaud was called Bengali-Gaudi, the script developed in the Devanagar (Patna) center was called Devanagari, the script developed in Mithila-Tirhut was called Maithili or Tirahuti, and the script developed in Nepal Mandal was called Nepal script or Newa script. Bengali, Devanagari, Maithili, and Newa scripts are sister scripts. Some degree of script similarity is hereditary. The script used in the Newa language is a continuation of the Ashoka-Brahmi script, but it was developed in the 3rd century BC.

Some scripts in use in Nepal seem to be limited to a specific historical period, while some are still in use. Some are ancient, while some were created only a few decades ago.

Linguist Chudamani Bandhu (2074) has stated that Devanagari, Newa, Sirijanga (Kirat Sirijanga), Mithilakshar, Kaithi, Sambhota, Akkha, Olchiki, Tamayig, Roman, and Urdu scripts are in use in Nepal. Similarly, Amrit Yonjan-Tamang has stated that there are 15 scripts: Ashoka Brahmi, Sambhota, Devanagari, Bangla, Newa, Mithilakshar/Tirhuta script, Kaithi, Gurmukhi, Sirijanga, Rong, Koinch, Khema, Olchiki, Arabic, Latin (Languages ​​of Nepal, 2080). He has included the Akkha script used for the Magar language in the Ashoka-Brahmi script. The script started by MS Thapa in the forties seems to be used by the Magar community as a separate script identity.

Including the Akkha script, Tamayig and additional Braille scripts not included above, there are 18 scripts in use in Nepal. However, a separate debate is needed on which scripts are original and which are related to each other. The 18 scripts are briefly discussed as follows:

1) Ashoka-Brahmi – Emperor Ashoka Maurya used the Brahmi script in the 4th century BC, so this script is known as Ashoka-Brahmi. He wrote pillars in various provinces of India including Lumbini and Kapilvastu. So far, 31 pillars have been found (Dinesh Chandra Regmi, Study of Nepali Scripts, 2079).

2) Sambhota script – The Tibetan emperor Srangchang Gonpo sent Thonmi to India in 632 to study the script. He stayed in India for seven years and studied the scripts, and after returning home, it is believed that the Sambhota script was developed from the Gupta script (developed around the 4th century) prevalent in India at that time. The languages ​​of the Himalayan community are written by adapting this script (conversation with Ajitman Tamang).

3) Devanagari script – This script, developed in Devanagari, India in the 12th century, evolved from the Ashoka-Brahmi script, through Nandinagari and Nagari, to become the Devanagari script. The Devanagari script is adapted and used in more than four dozen languages ​​of Nepal.

4) Bangla script – The Bengali language is written in a script developed from Brahmi in the 11th century.

5) Newa script – Developed from Brahmi, this script appears to have developed into 9 scripts including Ranjana, Prabhav, Bhujimol, Kummol, Kwemol, Golmol, Pachumol, Himol, and Litumol. Even within the Newa script, the Ranjana script is used in religious texts, records, board writing, etc. as it looks artistic and attractive. This script has been Unicoded under the title Newa script.

6) Mithilakshara/Tirhuta script – This script, which is considered close to Bengali, Assamese and Oriya scripts, was developed in the 13th century. Languages ​​of Indo-European origin such as Awadhi, Angika, Bhojpuri, Magahi etc. were written in it.

7) Gurmukhi script – Developed by the second Guru Angad in the 16th century, this script is used to write Punjabi language. This script also evolved from the Brahmi script.

8) Kirat Sirijanga script – This script, started by Teongsi Sirijanga (1704–1741) in the 18th century, is also used by the Yakthung/Limbus. However, after the Kirat-related organizations adjusted it to be for all Kirati languages ​​(31 languages), the use of this script is expanding in various Kirati languages ​​(Report of the Kirat Sirijanga Script Adjustment Task Force, 2078).

9) Rong script – This script, developed by King Namgyal of Sikkim in the early 18th century, is used by the Lepcha community in Ilam, eastern Nepal.

10) Ol-Chiki script – It is a script developed by Raghunath Murmudu of India for the Santhali language. This script, which was made public in 1939, is used for the Santhali language in Nepal.

11) Arabic script – Dozens of languages, including Urdu, are written in this script.

12) Kaithi script – This script is believed to have been developed around the 16th century. Languages ​​such as Angika, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Magahi are written in this script.

13) Latin/Roman script – In the 7th century, hundreds of European and other languages ​​including English, France, Germany are written in this script.

14) Koinch script – This is the script of the Koinch-Sunuwar language. Karna Bahadur Sunuwar (1926–1991) developed this script in 1942.

15) Khema script – Gurung (Tamu) language is written in this script prepared by Khegi Pim Bahadur Gurung of Syangja Kholsara in 2042.

16) Akkha – Akkha script seems to have come into use after MS Thapa published the book Prachin Magar and Akkha script in 2049. There have been various opinions about this script. Mother tongue activist Bishnu Kumar Sinjali pointed out that although this script was originally adapted for Magar Dhut, it needs to be adapted and developed for languages ​​such as Kham, Kaike, Tichhurung-Poike within Magar.

17) Tamayig script – Although the Auchen (Sambhota) script has been adapted and used in the Tamang language, there has been debate on this topic. ‘Gorkhapatra’ publishes Tamang language content in this script.

18) Braille script – This script is used for the visually impaired, and in Nepal, reading and teaching is done through this script.

Interest in the use of scripts and revival

In the latest phase, scripts have started to be taken as an indicator of identity. Especially after the constitutionally constituted Language Commission recommended the official language of the province, the debate on the script has also started. Although there is no reason for each of the recommended languages ​​to have a separate script, this issue seems to be becoming more vocal in the linguistic community. While there are many examples of how the same script can be adapted to different languages. However, what is true is that the interest in, revival and expansion of the script gives the impression that a renaissance has begun.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started using the Ranjana script for letter pads, signboards, etc., which has added enthusiasm. Ranjana script has also been included in the local curriculum. Arguing that Ranjana script is the original script of Nepal, Ahuti writes, ‘Devanagri script is used in official practice in Nepal, but when Nepal joined the United Nations, it presented Ranjana script, which is used in Nepali language, as its original script and claimed that it was a separate nation (Ahuti, 2082, Setapati). However, no official records have been found of the application submitted to become a member state.

After Tamang and Nepali language were implemented as official languages ​​in Bagmati Province, the script has also started being used in civil charters. Similarly, in the districts of Panchthar, Ilam, Taplejung, Tehrathum, etc. in the Arunpur region, the Kirat Sirijanga script has been used by the local government in letterheads and signboards. आदिवासी जनजाति आयोगले केही दिनअघि आयोगको स्थापना दिवसको सन्दर्भमा किरात सिरिजङ्गा लिपिलाई लेटरहेडमा प्रयोग गर्नुका साथै मातृभाषाको संरक्षणमा योगदान गरेबापत हलेसी तुवाचुङ नगरपालिकालाई सम्मानपत्र नै प्रदान गर्‍यो । त्यसो त अन्य लिपिहरूको पनि प्रयोग र विस्तार हुन थालेको छ । सन् १९५० पछि मैथिली भाषा देवनागरी लिपिमा लेखिन थालेको भए पनि पुनः यो लिपिमा लेखन प्रयास भइरहेको छ ।

लिपिको प्रयोग ‘गोरखापत्र’ सम्म विस्तारित भएको छ । ‘नयाँ नेपाल बहुभाषिक पृष्ठ’ मा अरबिक लिपि (उर्दू भाषा), रञ्जना लिपि (नेपाल भाषा), अुछेन/सम्भोटा लिपि (मुगाल भाषा), सम्भोटा लिपि (ल्होमी र शेर्पालगायत), किरात सिरिजङ्गा लिपि (याक्थुङ/लिम्बू), तामयिग लिपि (तामाङ भाषा) लगायत आधा दर्जन लिपि प्रयोगमा आएका छन् ।

चुनौती बन्दै डिजिटल प्रविधि

आजको प्रविधि युग र भूमण्डलीकरणले लिपिलाई युनिकोड प्रणालीमा लैजानैपर्ने चुनौती थपिदिएको छ । युनिकोड भनेको कम्प्युटरले चिन्ने गरी तयार गरिएको कुनै पनि लिपिको विशेष कोड हो । विश्वव्यापी रूपमा युनिकोड कन्सोर्टियमले यसको व्यवस्थापन गर्छ । कुनै लिपि वा भाषाको युनिकोड तयार भएपछि उत्पादन हुने सबै डिभाइसले त्यसलाई सपोर्ट गर्छ । देवनागरी, रञ्जना, सम्भोटा, बाङ्ला, रोङ, कोइँच, ओल–चिकी, अरबी, ल्याटिन/रोमन जस्ता लिपिहरू युनिकोड प्रणालीमा गइसकेका छन् भने बाँकी लिपिहरू युनिकोड प्रणालीमा प्रवेश गर्ने चरणमा छन् ।

दोस्रो, कतिपय प्रचलनमा रहेका लिपिहरूलाई थप वैज्ञानिक बनाउने कुरा पनि चुनौतीको विषय बनेको छ । एउटा लिपि अन्य विभिन्न भाषाका लागि अनुकूलन गर्न सकिन्छ । तर, एउटा भाषाको वर्णविन्यास अर्को भाषाको वर्ण विन्याससँग मिल्दैन । त्यसैले ध्वनि–वैज्ञानिक अध्ययन भइसकेका कतिपय भाषामा वर्ण विन्याससँग तामेली हुने गरी अनुकूलन गर्नु आवश्यक छ ।

त्यसो त यसप्रति केही चासो बढ्दै पनि गएको छ । उदाहरणका लागि ३१ वटा किरातजन्य भाषाका लागि मौजुदा अवस्थामा रहेको लिपि चिह्नलाई जस्ताको तस्तै प्रयोग गर्ने गरी अपुग वर्णहरू थप गरी किरात सिरिजङ्गा लिपिलाई अनुकूलन गरिएको छ । यसैगरी नेपाल प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानले एउटा कार्यदल नै गठन गरी नेपालका भाषाहरूको वर्ण व्यवस्थालाई आधार मानेर साझा वर्णमाला तयार पारेको छ भने छुट्टै फन्टको समेत विकास गरेको छ ।