RT @creative_radio: KALIMPONG: Aachuley Lepcha #indigenous peoples Community Radio http://ow.ly/2sIE5 Lepcha tribes of the Darjeeling District, West Bengal
[excerpt] FROM LEPCHA AACHULAY MAGAZINE 99% of the indigenous Lepcha tribes live in remote villages where the basic human facilities are non-existent.The literary rate of the Lepcha tribes is the lowest among the various communities in this region. Without proper education, they are living in the 19th Century today. Marginalization of the original indigenous Lepcha tribes in West Bengal has a telling effect on their socio- economic and political conditions. No wonder anthropologists, linguists and scholars are repeatedly saying that the original indiegenous Lepcha tribes are a vanishing tribal race. Bollywood and western musical and cultural craze have not spare the Lepcha community either. Beautiful and meaningful folksongs, folk music and traditional cultural heritage seem unfashionable to many today. India is known throughout the world for her varieties of ancient, rich and unique languages, literature, culture, traditions, customs etc. People of the world marvel at her. It is very important that the Lepcha tribes do not falter in their thoughts and action and must endeavour to conserve their very rich and ancient cultural heritage in Mayel Lyang. Useful and important Government information is hard to come by in this region, especially in the remote villages where the Lepcha tribes reside. Take the example of Census of India 2011. Most people in the remote villages are not aware of the importance of Indian Census 2011 and how each individual or the head of family at least could be immense help to the Goverment of India in compiling the most important and correct census in order to plan the future development works. There are hundreds of problems for the Lepcha community in this region. Each problem has its own solution. Through the community radio, we fimly believe, it will not only help to communicate among the Lepcha tribes better and solves problems, it certainly can help us to preserve, conserve, maintain and develop the very rich, ancient and unique Lepcha language, literature and cultural heritage for posterity. A Lepcha Community Radio Station is a must for the original indigenous Lepcha tribes in Kalimpong, the heartland of the Lepchas. The long awaited cherished dream, hope and aspiration of the original indigenous Lepcha tribes of the Darjeeling District, West Bengal of a quality radio communications in their own language, is going to be materialized and fulfilled soon. Panos Institute South Asia is here to help the Lepcha community of West Bengal to establish their own community radio in Kalimpong. Join the Community Radio Forum. For membership details, please go to www.crforum.in
