Nepal's cultural heritage is being threatened; however, we can still act to preserve it to prevent further exacerbation. It is up to the local communities, government leaders and citizens to protect its unique cultural legacy
Nepal has a diverse array of cultures, traditions and languages that date back thousands of years. Contemporarily, it's deep-rooted traditions, languages and cultural practices are at risk of extinction through external and internal pressures. Whether due to climate change, colonial influences or brain-drain, the requirement for active cultural preservation is urgent.
Indigenous communities in disaster-prone areas of Nepal have had their homes wiped out by natural disasters through no faults of their own, converting them to climate refugees.
This has caused them to lose vital aspects of their identity, traditions and cultural landmarks. There are currently 47 glacial lakes at risk of breaching in Nepal, and Nepal has already undergone 26 Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) since 1977, meaning the threat to indigenous communities in vulnerable areas of Nepal is ever-growing.
Kathmandu is known as the city of temples, and through its rich cultural tapestry it is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, ancient temples and palaces in Kathmandu have endured physical damages through natural disasters. Whether it be natural disasters or the dominance of Nepali over local languages, the Newari community, indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley, has suffered through it the most through the loss of their culture through both these factors.
Beyond the cultural and traditional diversity, it was reported, according to the 2021 census, that 124 different languages were spoken in the country. Nepali, the official language was reported to be the mother tongue of 44.64 per cent of the population, meaning that more than half of the population identified with another language than the official language as their mother tongue. Despite this, Nepali is the dominant language in the media, government and education, which leads to the marginalisation of indigenous languages. In turn, this results in younger individuals from indigenous communities to abandon their mother tongue to adapt to Nepali.
There are currently 37 languages critically endangered, and 29 of them have fewer than 1,000 speakers. Kusunda is one of these languages with approximately 150 speakers and is one of the most threatened languages. Consequently, the 2021 census reported that there were 162 Kusunda people in the country. There are limited education resources for its preservation and a lack of a written script, which outlines that the extinction of Kusunda seems imminent. It is vital to acknowledge that the diverse languages of indigenous communities aren't solely communication tools, they are repositories of history, knowledge and perspectives that offer a unique lens.
Although Nepal was never formally colonised, it has felt the impacts of British colonialism after the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. The adoption of Western-style portraits, architecture and fashion have impacted Nepal's indigenous cultures throughout the centuries.
In the 1960s, through the influx of Western tourists the hippie movement rose in Nepal. Traditional art such as paubha and thangka paintings were modified to cater to the taste of tourists, which caused these paintings to lose a part of their spiritual and cultural significance. In the 1980s, artifacts were stolen and sold internationally which exacerbated the damage to Nepal's cultural identity. Neo-cultural
colonialism continued in the 1990s with the rising involvement of NGOs and INGOs. Although their intentions were positive, initiatives to promote coffee cultivation by changing traditional farming practices failed due to the lack of comprehension of local agricultural traditions, causing economic disruptions to the communities.
In addition to grappling with a plethora of challenges, Nepal is also at risk of losing many of their traditional performing arts. For example, the Saranya dance, which was once an essential part of religious celebration in Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan and Palpa districts, is now facing a serious decline. With richness, the ancient ritual dance was performed with weapons like khukuris and khadgas. However, with safety concerns and changing societal mindsets, the dance is less commonly performed. Similarly, dances such as Malashree and Patta, traditionally performed during Dashain to honour Phulpati, are vanishing due to the refusal of younger people to learn the dances. These dances reflect Nepal's rich spiritual and social fabric.
The number of Nepalese migrant families has been growing exponentially, and these families have children who are growing up disconnected from their Nepali roots. These individuals are unable to speak Nepali or understand the cultural traditions. Evidently, studies have shown that bilingual children benefit from cognitive advantages and greater social integration. Therefore teaching Nepali may be beneficial for these children in maintaining ties to their cultural identity.
Through cultural preservation Nepal can promote an inclusive society to the world that embraces diversity and fosters grounds for cultural exchanges. With the fusion of Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous practices, Nepal offers a unique cultural experience that is highly valued in the globalised world today.
Nepal's cultural heritage is being threatened; however, we can still act to preserve it to prevent further exacerbation. The effects of climate change, cultural colonialism, erosion of languages and the decline of traditional practices is dire and requires urgent attention. It is up to the local communities, government leaders and the citizens of Nepal to protect its rich and unique cultural legacy. International communities can support Nepal to conduct so, as it is a global responsibility and a shared human desire to protect human history, traditions and identities for the future generations.
Kunwar is advisor to All Nepalese Tea & Coffee Centre Pvt. Ltd.