Revitalizing Maithili: Comprehensive approach to language preservation and education

Language is a system of communication used by humans to express thoughts, emotions, and information. Nepali, Hindi, Marathi, and Maithili are all part of the Indo-Aryan linguistic family. Among these, Maithili has a long history and cultural significance, especially in Nepal and India. It is predominantly spoken in the Mithila region, which includes parts of Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar.

The renowned 14th-century Maithili poet Vidyapati is often considered the founder of Maithili literature. His writings, characterized by deep emotional content and poetic beauty, have left a lasting impact on the language. Vidyapati’s poems of love, devotion, and nature continue to be celebrated for their literary excellence. Maithili, being a highly phonetic language, ensures that its written and spoken forms are pronounced almost identically.

The ancient Maithili script, Tirhuta, has been in use for millennia. While Maithili is now more commonly written in Devanagari, the Tirhuta script remains a symbol of the language’s historical and cultural heritage. Chhath Puja, a festival honoring the Sun God, is a well-known cultural tradition associated with Maithili. During this event, Maithili speakers preserve their cultural legacy by performing rituals and singing traditional songs in Maithili. Additionally, Maithili traditional music and dances, such as Sama-Chakeva and Jat-Jatin, play significant roles in social events and communal celebrations.

Today, Maithili is recognized as one of Nepal’s official languages and is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as one of India’s 22 scheduled languages. Efforts to promote the language include publishing Maithili literature, incorporating Maithili into school curricula, and broadcasting Maithili-language television and radio programs. Despite these initiatives, Maithili faces challenges from migration, urbanization, and the influence of mainstream languages like Hindi and English. Nevertheless, the determination and ongoing efforts of the Maithili-speaking community to promote their language through cultural and educational programs offer hope for its survival.

In the Eastern Tarai of Nepal and northern Bihar of India, once known as ancient and medieval Mithila or Tirhut, Maithili is spoken as a mother tongue. The evolution of the Maithili language and literature saw a significant period during the Karnata dynasty (1097-1324). The Bara district, about 30 kilometers east of Birgunj, is home to the remains of the Karnata capital city of Mithila, known as Simaraungadh. This era marked the emergence of modern Maithili.

Nanyadeva, the founder of the Karnata dynasty in Mithila, extended his power into the Kathmandu Valley. His successors continued to expand their military might and influence. Harisinghadeva, the last king of the Karnata dynasty, married Devalakshmidevi (Devaldevi), a princess from Bhaktapur and the daughter of Jayatungamalla. Another significant dynasty was the Sena dynasty of Makwanpur, which began in 1518. The Makwanpur fort, located about 16 kilometers east of Hetauda in the Makwanpur district of the Narayani Zone in Nepal, was central to this dynasty.

Political and cultural ties were maintained between the Mallas of the Kathmandu Valley and the Sena dynasty rulers. Maithili was the official language of Makwanpur, reflecting the interconnectedness of Nepal’s medieval political and cultural landscape. Maithili was evolving in the pre-medieval Karnata era but reached significant development during the later-medieval Sena period. Even the kings of the Kathmandu Valley composed plays and poetry in Maithili, underscoring the language's immense importance.

Although Maithili is the second most widely spoken language in Nepal, it is primarily spoken in the Madhes Province. Historically, it was the official state language throughout the Middle Ages, but its usage has increasingly declined. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including the concentration of political power, the predominance of Nepali, and socioeconomic changes affecting language use and educational practices in Nepal.

The Constitution of Nepal 2015 declares Nepal a multilingual country. Article 6 recognizes all mother tongues spoken in Nepal as national languages, while Article 3 acknowledges the country's multilingual character. Article 7 outlines the official language policy, designating Nepali in Devanagari script as the official language. However, provinces can designate other official languages spoken by the majority within their borders.

The Constitution also emphasizes the right to equality and prohibits discrimination based on language in Article 18. Article 32 guarantees the freedom to use and promote one's native language and culture, and Article 31 ensures every Nepali community the right to education in their mother tongue.

Under Article 287, the Language Commission is established to evaluate mother languages for educational purposes and advise the government on their potential use. Language plays a critical role in personal and societal development, influencing ethnic, caste, and cultural distinctions in Nepal.

UNESCO has long advocated for basic instruction in the home language for educational, psychological, and cultural reasons. Their 1953/1968 report recommended starting education in the mother tongue to bridge the gap between home and school. The 1990 World Conference on Education for All highlighted that literacy in the mother tongue enhances cultural identity and heritage. Despite these recognitions, a significant barrier to using mother languages in elementary education is the lack of instructional resources and textbooks, a pressing issue for Maithili.

Addressing this problem requires deliberate efforts to develop and distribute instructional materials in Maithili. Government programs, non-governmental organizations, and community initiatives should focus on producing textbooks, training Maithili-speaking educators, and promoting the use of Maithili in various educational contexts.