Maithili weathering two-pronged attack

Despite being the second most spoken language in Nepal and the first in Madhes Province, the discourse on Magahi, Hindi and Madhesi languages seems to have obscured the need for recognizing Maithili as the official language in the province. Although the Language Commission has clearly mentioned Maithili as the leading language of the province, calls for recognizing Hindi as the lingua franca and Magahi as the mother tongue have undermined the Maithili language. 

Since Maithili is not enlisted as an endangered language in the world-famous reference book, ‘The Middle East and South Asia’, we can rest assured that the language is not in peril for now. The speakers of Nepali and Bhojpuri can also heave a sigh of relief as the book has mentioned these languages for the same reason. However, a careful analysis indicates that Maithili may not have a rosy future. 

In its glory days, Maithili spread well beyond the Mithila region, including in the Kathmandu Valley and Palpa. It has a rich literature and its own script, and historical accounts show that the kings of the Sen dynasty used Maithili as the official language. 

Researchers have confirmed that the Malla kings of the valley used Maithili in plays, poetry, song compositions and artworks because it was a rich and well-developed language capable of showcasing the dignity of ancient Nepal. Scholars have described Maithili as the mother tongue of ancient Mithila. According to stanza 18 of Sundarkanda of Balmiki Ramayan, when Rawan made Sita captive and kept her at Ashoka Batika, Hanuman visited the garden to know about Goddess Sita’s plight, doing the bidding of Lord Ram. It states that Hanuman conversed with Sita in Maithili. 

According to the book titled ‘History of Maithili Literature’, penned by Dr Durga Nanda Jha, Mithila has been in existence since the Vedic era. The environment, vegetation and wildlife described in the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishad and Mimamsha are found in the region that was a huge Mithila state during the reign of the Janaka dynasty, with Janakpurdham as its capital. 

Historians have mentioned that the dynasty ruled the state, the birthplace of Sita situated in the middle of Koshi, Kamala, Bagmati, Gandaki and Ganga rivers, from 3000 BC till 600 BC. The Siddha scriptures written in the eighth century are in Maithili and so are the works of literary figures, including couplets and songs of sage poets like Dak, Bhas and Bhusuppa. They all have stood the test of time. Jyotishwor’s ‘Dhurat Samagam’, the oldest ancient scripture, mentions Maithili as one of the languages of the Indo-European language family. 

According to linguist Dr Ramawatar Yadav, of 150 manuscripts of plays written between 900 AD and 18th century (preserved in the National Archives of Nepal), 115 are in Maithili, 26 in Newari and five in Bengali. Out of 28 Indo-European languages, Maithili is the ‘second oldest language’ after Marathi. 

The report of a survey conducted in the 19th century under George Abraham Grierson states that Maithili enjoyed an independent literary tradition in Nepal’s Tarai and most parts of Bihar (India).

Findings of historian Tulasiram Vaidhya’s research conducted in Simraungadh state that Maithili had received state patronage during the reign of the Karnat dynasty. During the reign of the Karnat kings (from the 14th century), the language is said to have spread in several places, including Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Banepa.

According to historian Baburam Acharya, the Sen kings had used Maithili as their official language. Born around 1340 AD, Mahakabi (the great poet) of Maithili, Vidyapati, is said to have composed more than a dozen poems and prose in Maithili. There is evidence to suggest that Vidyapati had translated the Bhagawat Gita in Maithili, and wrote half a dozen books during his stay in Banauli near Janakpurdham. Even Rabindranath Tagore regarded Vidyapati as the ‘poetry guru’. 

Per historical accounts, Maithili was used as an official language in the Kathmandu Valley before King Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley. Malla kings would speak in Maithili, and write literature in the language. 

However, after the conquest of the valley, the state’s policies aimed at promoting Nepali as the official language and King Mahendra’s slogan of ‘one nation, one language and one dress’ took a toll on the Mithila way of life. 

In the face of emerging threats to Maithili, which have also put the related culture, civilization, self esteem and identity of a people at increased risks, there’s a need to launch a linguistic campaign for the language by drawing strength from a rich history backed by scientific evidence. Having weathered attacks from Shah rulers desperate to hold onto power, Maithili is seeking a revival, a departure from long periods of state neglect. 

Although Maithili has not provided the language speaking people with the ethnic personality and identity, it has enriched the literary, civilizational and cultural heritage of Nepal. Words referring to places, names, vegetation, food, lifestyle and popular local things used in daily life in the Maithili language are found in the Nepali language, showing that Maithili has enriched Nepali language as well. 

According to the latest National Census report, of the 124 mother tongues spoken in Nepal, Nepali accounts for 44.86 percent, Maithili 11.05, Bhojpuri 6.24, Tharu 5.88, Tamang 4.88, Bajjika 3.89, Abadhi 2.66, Newari 2.96, Magar Dhut 2.78 and Doteli 1.7. A comparative study of relevant census data shows that the number of Maithili speakers is dwindling. The tendency of abandoning the mother tongue to embrace other dominant languages and unfavorable state policies are to blame, among other factors.

Summing up, it’s time Maithili speakers showed their deepest respect for their mother tongue by using it in school curriculums and other fora. Government authorities should come up with a comprehensive language plan, conduct a sociological survey of the Maithili speaking regions and take measures to preserve Maithili language, culture, customs and traditions. Such measures will not only be in the interest of the Mithila region but of the whole country. 

The author is a journalist and researcher of Maithili language and literature