Master Tshering faced challenges as villagers showed open resentment to learning English

— the language of beef eaters

Okhaldunga :

Today English language is not just a language of the sahibs. It has become a global language, understood even in remote parts of Nepal.

Rewind back to 1936 (2003 BS) and visit Dhodeni khola, Mahabharat hills, Bahadura khola, Likhu khola, Sasup khola and Sarbocha shikar (Everest region). All these areas were then part of Okhaldhunga district of East Number 3. Later Nepal was divided into 14 anchals (administrative zones) of 75 districts. Today Okhaldhunga, Khotang and Solukhumbu districts fall in the Sagarmatha anchal, while parts of East Number 3 area were included into Udayapur and Sindhuli districts.

The inhabitants of then Okhaldhunga were Brahmins, Kschetris, Rais, Newars, Sherpas, Kamis, Damais, Magars among others. This hilly region was considered extremely remote and backward, and therefore, most of the people were very poor. Among the different ethnic groups, the Rais were among the first to make economic gains thanks to recruitment in the British Gurkha Army.

During the Rana government, education was discouraged. Bhasa Pathsyala was the only school in the entire East Number 3 region.

In 1936 at the age of 16, my parents, friends and myself had the rare opportunity to meet a gentleman, a Sherpa, from Khamje, Beni VDC. This person was about the same age as I, 18 or 19, and had come to Okhaldhunga after having studied English language in Kalimpong, India. In those days, there was no one capable of speaking or writing in English. We felt honoured to have met him and hear the English language for the first time in our lives.

I recollect this gentleman announcing he had studied English in Kalimpong, and wanted to teach the language to anyone in Okhaldhunga. The name of this gentleman is Master Tshering Dorjee Sherpa, who is an octogenarian today.

In those days a teacher was called ‘Master’, and till this day, he is known by his honorable title and is recognised as the teacher who imparted unselfishly his knowledge of English language to those who showed interest.

Master Tshering’s first English language students were the son of Bhuwan Lal Pradhan, the Subba of Malpot Karyalaya (Land Revenue Office), and myself. Word got around and students starting enrolling for Master Tshering’s class. Soon the class became a school and the Private Primary English School was established with cooperation of all locals. It was a historic moment as this was the first English institution in the history of Okhaldhunga. The Private Primary English School was re-named and is now better known as Sagarmatha Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya. It has been the backbone of education in the region. Several prominent figures passed out from this school and are today respectable entrepreneurs, businessmen, politicians, et cetera.

In the initial stages, Master Tshering faced challenges as villagers showed open resentment to learning English — the language of beef eaters. Nepal being a predominantly Hindu country considers the cow a holy animal. Staunch Hindus regarded the British, Europeans and others beef-eaters as lower caste or simply sub-humans.

Today English is a standard second language in Nepal and therefore compulsory in all 75 districts. During those days learning English was considered astonishing, and more astonishing was to find someone who wanted to teach that language to the villagers.

It is a known fact that English language can take a person to great heights especially in today’s world of computers, Internet and global business. I am 76 now and I consider the brief education I got from Master Tshering as a long-time investment. I have encouraged my sons, daughters and others to learn English.

There is no doubt how wrong people were six decades ago regarding learning or teaching of English language. I want to hail Master Tshering Dorjee Sherpa for his courage, sacrifice and his contribution to the society of Eastern Nepal in building awareness and imparting the language of beef eaters.

In respect and gratitude, may this article popularise our Master for his contribution especially in the upper Sagarmatha anchal.

(Translated from Nepali into English by Pushkar Raj Joshi)