Linguistic Minorities: Issues in Their Rights and Protection

Abstract

Perhaps, much of the intellectual discourses regarding the potential way out of the escalating conflict in Nepal have most often concluded that the resolute solution, that of sustainable peace, reside in the form of inclusion of people from every walk of life in every respect of social and national life. The best way to prevent conflict is promote political arrangements in which all groups are fairly represented, combined with human rights, minority rights and broad-based economic development. Peace does not only mean that the two leaders of fighting groups come together and reach an agreement not to resort to violence then after, but it is also the assimilation and recognition of each other by every individual in either side. If all were to be the same in every respect from religion, belief, culture, language to political ideology and the society were a homogenous one, then perhaps there would be no conflict, but to expect such homogenous society is a utopia in itself and to try to create ... such homogenous society is recipe for disaster. Moreover the beauty of Mankind lies not on monotonous and mechanical relations always guided by a single set of rules among them, but the true essence of humankind lies in their give and take relations, in their expectations from each other and even from their likings and dislikings about each other. Only ants and flies can survive in such monotonous and homogenous group.

Every individual is different from another individual, and every society and the cultures in it are different as well. People are different, because people live in different ways and civilizations also differs. People speak in varieties of language and are guided by different religions, they express themselves differently. Human rights are based on the acknowledgement and acceptance of the human person in all of his or her diversity. All human beings are equal; no matter what distinguishes them, they have the same rights. International human rights such as non-discrimination, freedom of expression and religion and others are all founded on the recognition of the intrinsic value of the human person's dignity and worth. These rights are based on tolerance of human differences, such as linguistic and religious differences, and respect and recognition of human diversity. To deny minority individuals access to certain benefits, or to disadvantage them because of their religion or language is - under the universal principle of Human Rights can no longer become permissible.

Moreover Human Rights cannot be isolated from each other but are realized only as a totality. . . So no matter how the state tries to identify itself as a benevolent preacher of civil and political liberties of its citizens, without recognition and protection of other rights such as linguistic rights, the true fruit cannot be achieved at all. Hence, for the shake of inclusion and universalization of Human Rights in all of its content minorities, such as linguistic, minorities are to be protected by recognizing the rights they deserve. Linguistic right is important because it is significant in the realization of self-identity and internal self-determination. Linguistic right is important not just because every one should have right to self determination which language they want to speak, but it is important because with linguistic rights the identity of the individual is associated, with linguistic rights individual's social recognition is associated and with linguistic rights - individual's other rights such as right to education, information, expression, participation in decision making are associated. And in absence of such rights nations have to suffer distrust, hatred, pain and sorrow of revolution and may be of armed conflict. Without an equal society a peaceful society cannot be imagined.

Keywords: Linguistic, Minorities, Nepal, Rights