On words and their purpose
I was just watching a request show in a Nepalese television channel where I heard wishes for a “Happy Diwaali.” I felt like confirming what I had been feeling for long. Here are the results from “Contemporary Nepali Dictionary“
तपाईँले खोज्नु भएको शब्द ‘दीवाली’ यो शब्दकोशमा फेला परेन । अत: यो शब्द “दीवाली ” समकालीन नेपाली शब्दकोशको सम्पादकमंडल समक्ष पठाइएको छ ।
दीपावली (असङ्. ना.)
अर्थ
१. बत्तीहरू बालेर झिलीमिली पार्ने काम
उदा.
१. यस्तो समर्थनमा ठाउँ–ठाउँमा दीपावली भइरहेका छन्।
२. सबै भवनहरू दीपावलीले सिँगारिएका र झलल बलिरहेका देखिन्थे।
The word “Diwaali” doesn’t even exist in the Nepalese dictionary. So I don’t know how people relate this word with the festival of “Tihar.” If you are a Nepalese and understand the increasing threat to your national/cultural identity, please don’t wish me a “Happy Diwaali.” Anyone who does will have to face my wrath 
And no, words aren’t always for convenience, try to understand their importance.
I recently wrote a post about a possible identity crisis among Nepalese (which is actively being sought by many forces). Some words are more than words, they have some purpose, for they carry some meaning and have the power of inciting emotions and ideas. They are the representative of a civilization’s state of progress, and with use they become culture. Like the harmful practice of naming Dashain a Hindu festival, people have started naming “Tihar” as “Diwaali.” Tihar is the second greatest festival in Nepal and a part of the festival includes the display of lights in houses and elsewhere. This lighting is called “Dipaawali” in Nepali and “Diwaali” in Hindi.
First,thanks for the information about the online nepali dictionary.
And yes..with such negligence from our very own nepali media houses,the real essence of our language is fading fast.Also the lack of grammatical correctness displayed on screen is affecting the Nepali writings of students.
Perhaps,each such organization should hire at least one “Language Specialist” to prevent such errors.
biswas
October 21, 2008 at 8:22 pm
यो दिपावली नै हो ।
तर खै, दिवाली भनेर फलाकिरा’हुन्छन् ।
आकार
October 21, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Indeed, its a matter of identity crisis.
Are multinational companies urged to shoot the commercials in Nepali language/ with Nepali actors/actresses… we can agree on their themes since product is theirs..
who is to think?
Television Channels dont have time for thinking besides money-making fundas.
Newspapers don’t have time since it is not politicians do not get involved in such matters.
We think. Lets get into act when we have the chance.
Identity crisis indeed.
kumarpaudel
October 21, 2008 at 11:18 pm
yaar its not a matter of identity crisis, its amalgamation of different cultures and is a continues process, if you look back at world history this is what has given rise to differnt cultures from existing ones, so i dont think one should take it negativly. wish you “happy diwali” or “happy dipawali” as you take it personally.
tonmoy
October 22, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hey Tonmoy,
You can wish me happy diwaali and i will wish you happy diwaali back. Its perfectly ok. But for a Nepalese, for a Nepali media to wish me Happy Diwaali isn’t ok. Our festival “Tihar” shouldn’t loose its charm and existence, thats my only concern.
Yes, what you are saying is also true but it is hard for outsiders to understand the sentiments of a small country like ours and the influence it has to face from such a big and powerful country that India is. It doesn’t come to any common Indian’s notice, the aggressions their government shows on its small neighbours
No offence to the Indian people though.
Take an example, would you like Kolkata being called Calcutta again? Or would you like the Durga Puja vacation called the Christmas vacation? haha, an overstatement, but that’s how comparisons are made.
Cheers !
Bibek Paudel
October 22, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I don’t think it’s an issue of identity crisis. Like it or not, it’s because of the exchange of cultural traits among people (and media alike) because of all sorts of communication process taking place at different levels of our society or the world. Many words get replaced/displaced/discarded.. so do many rituals, traditions, practices, habits, opinions, rules and so on.
Call it an “inevitable” Cultural Dissemination or Culutural Dominance!
Having said that however, I must admit I get really pissed off whenever I hear such words or phrases.
One of the pharases I can’t stand is “nikhaar dai jaau” on those Clinic Plus sampoo (or cream or something like that).. what the heck does it mean? Nikhaar dai janey re. Another is “tyocha”. Damn. It’s funny and it’s ridiculous and it’s insulting.
May be because our media (or politicians) are so readily submissive to India or may be it has to do with some sort of “resentment” we hold against Indians – it’s hard for us to accept this “language invasion”.
But, aren’t we the average Nepali who enjoys watching Hindi movie, love talking about Hindi actors, love sticking posters of Rhitik Roshan?
There’s nothing to blame others… it’s our own doing.
Unless, we get really motivated and get determined – like those people from Darjeeling fighting for Gorkhaland and wearing Nepali dress – all we can do is yaap yaap and yaap.
Shutup
October 22, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Yes Shutup,
I agree that it’s our own fault. One wise man once said that the big countries have been acting as spoiled bullies and small countries have been acting as helpless prostitutes. Our leaders, media and civil society all are to be blamed for whatever cultural erosion we have been witnessing. No disagreements there.
I was referring to my another post while talking of identity crisis.
Thanks for the comments.
Bibek Paudel
October 22, 2008 at 7:12 pm
दीप+आवली= दीपावली
keshuvko
October 23, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Countries acting like spoilt bullies and the rest like helpless prostitutes. I think those are quite a heavy use of words in this context. In a more business point of view: there’s a difference between translation and localization. The conversations or words that you hear could be just the translated versions. WHich is not necessarily incorrect but kind of works. Localization would probably cost a little more money. But that’s just my guess. If there is a team as such involved in translating or localizing for that matter- its quite a shame interms of the end product they are releasing – clearly their work is being questioned. But I for one not complaining. Because Nepali and hindi languages grew out of the similar root i.e Sanskrit. Then again- if we want to get into the nitty gritty of all this- been a long time haven’t heard any of those ads- if my memory serves me well- I don’t think – even the voices did the trick. Whn you listened to some of them- you could easily tell – the voice overs were done by the Indians. God that Indian accent ruined it all.
S
October 24, 2008 at 12:08 am
“Countries acting like spoilt bullies and the rest like helpless prostitutes” was said by some wise man, I just quoted him.
Bibek Paudel
October 24, 2008 at 4:18 pm
So, when did I say that you were not quoting! Mr. Stalker!! haha…(think thats enough…won’t use THE word again)
S
October 25, 2008 at 6:41 am
Please S,
I’d feel I’m depriving you of of the compensation for being stalked
There’s no reason you should feel bad about using the word.
Cheers !
Bibek Paudel
October 25, 2008 at 7:35 am
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