People are being polarised because of the decision of the apex court and the developments following it
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29
The debate over removal of 'OM' from the Nepali Dictionary has flared up after the apex court on September 21 ruled that an amicus curiae be formed on whether to remove the word or keep it.
People are being polarised because of the decision and the developments following it. It has caught the attention of each sector of society.
Netizens have poured out their dissatisfaction in various social media calling it 'no-brainer'. Some of them have also called it a conspiracy against Hindu and Nepali culture. "OM is yet to be incorporated in the dictionary on the website," says Advocate Swagat Nepal, who filed a writ against removal of the word.
"OM was removed from the dictionary. Even after an interim order, it was published. However, after realising that contempt of court was punishable, it was corrected and published. But the decision has not been revoked. Do fall into a trap created by the spies."
Talking to THT, Advocate Nepal said, "On 6 August 2012, the then minister of Education Dinanath Sharma decided to remove the combined letters. That decision has not yet been overturned by another ministerial decision. As per the decision, words such as 'Sri' and 'OM' were removed, or if someone prefers to write them, they could."
The petition registered regarding it at the Supreme Court received an interim order in 2016 stating that the case would be prioritised.
However, the case was delayed and postponed several times.
Finally, after seven years on 21 September 2023, the Supreme Court asked that an amicus curiae (opinion of the subject experts) be formed.
Amicus curiae appointments are customary when courts require expert opinions on intricate and specialised cases.
"A joint bench of Justices Kumar Chudal and Binod Sharma ruled that a senior advocate or attorney provide expertise on Nepali orthography matters," said Advocate Nepal, adding, "As per the order, legal experts who are well versed in Nepali language will be invited and their opinion will be incorporated in the verdict."
As soon as the order was issued and news circulated, it drew the attention of the people and debate arose regarding the matter.
Sheshmani Acharya wrote, "OM is not a subject of healthy debate. What shall we do with such jargon, Advocate Swagat Nepal? I couldn't welcome this noise."
Seeing such remarks, netizens have brutally criticised Acharya and praised Advocate Swagat Nepal. Bhuban Pokhrel wrote, "Congratulations to Advocate Swagat Nepal who is trying to unmask the face of culprits behind these."
Similarly, Nepali Congress Leader Shankar Bhandari has warned against removing the word 'OM' from the dictionary.
During Nepali Congress' Central Committee meeting, lawmaker Bhandari said, "OM is being scrapped from the Nepali dictionary. A robust action should be taken or else we will be compelled to go against such a decision. If this decision is passed, it will tarnish the image of NC."
Advocate Swagat Nepal, Journalist Tapendra Karki, Baldev Sharma Adhikari, Lal Nath Subedi, Maheshwar Neupane, among others, had filed four writs arguing that there were grammatical blunders in Nepali orthography.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
