Nepal Niceties
Stakeholders have expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of mother tongue media. They have complained that the expected support from the state for the promotion of such media and mother tongue journalism has not been forthcoming. The speakers said to this effect at the ‘Virtual’ Interaction Program organized by the Association of Tamang Journalists on the occasion of the 27th Tamang Broadcasting Day.
“We have been demanding a special policy to promote mother tongue media but the state has not paid enough attention to make adequate policy arrangements,” said Danda Gurung, president of the Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists of Nepal (FONIJ).
Pointing out the need to mount pressure on formulating necessary policies for the promotion of mother tongue journalism, Gurung said that should be a collective effort on the same. Saying although the mother tongue journalism was given some space in the government media, he said it was not yet enough. Chairman Gurung added that even the concerned community could not play an effective role in the promotion of mother tongue journalism. “Our issues cannot be addressed unless there is a policy reform. Thus, we need to work together for the same. The community should also take the lead on this, ‘said President Gurung. He said lack of investment has also weakened the condition of community-focused media.
Presenting a working paper titled ‘Indigenous Tamang Journalism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’, senior journalist Kumar Yatru Tamang emphasized the need to protect and promote the traditional media of the Indigeneous communities. He elaborated on the issues to be raised by Tamang journalists. ‘Our traditional and customary subjects are going to extinct. It is important to write about traditional communication systems, treatments and other cultural issues, ‘he said.
He said, “We need to set up our own media to cover issues that are not covered by the mainstream media.” He pointed out that the main challenge was the inability of such media to get continuity.
Chairman of Nepal Tamang Ghedung, Mohan Gole, said that it was important to effectively promote the community-centric media as the mainstream media do not cover the issues of the Tamang community. He also expressed his commitment that Ghedung will support the program that Tamang media persons will institutionally take forward for the same.
Sanchu Blon, central member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists FNJ, said that there is a challenge of continuity in mother tongue journalism. Stating the main reason for the decline in interest in mother tongue journalism is an investment, she stressed the need to make the journalists working in this field professional. He said that as mother tongue journalism was getting weaker by the day, it would be a challenge to bring out the voice of the community and protect the linguistic and cultural issues in the society.
Prateek Tamang, former president of the Tamang Journalists’ Association, said that there should be an in-depth review of the achievements made in the 27 years since Tamang started broadcasting. He pointed out that more effective programs should be brought institutionally to promote linguistic and community-oriented journalism by making Tamang journalists professional.
Association president Bishnu Tamang said that the program could not be organized physically due to the corona pandemic. He informed that the Association will continue to hold ‘Virtual’ interaction programs on various issues of Tamang journalism and the community.
The Tamang community has been celebrating Bhadra 1 (as per the eastern lunar calendar) as the Tamang Broadcasting Day since the news was broadcast in the Tamang language for the first time from Radio Nepal on 17th August 1994 AD (Bhadra 1, 2051 BS). In this regard, Tamang Journalists Association has been holding programs every year. The Association has informed that various district branches of the Association have also celebrated the broadcasting day by holding various programs.