Sikkim’s lone Member of Parliament, Dr. Indra Hang Subba, has formally appealed to the Ministry of Education to reinstate Rai, Sherpa, Tamang, and Gurung languages as optional second vernacular subjects in Classes XI and XII under the CBSE curriculum. The appeal comes after a joint representation was submitted by four prominent community organizations in Sikkim, emphasizing the importance of linguistic continuity and cultural preservation. Dr. Subba personally met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Parliament House and Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar at his residence, advocating for the inclusion of these indigenous languages, which are already taught up to Class X. He strongly objected to the Ministry’s earlier rejection, communicated via a letter dated December 20, 2024.
“The exclusion of these languages from the senior secondary level breaks the academic continuity for students and undermines the efforts of indigenous communities to preserve their cultural identity,” Subba stated. He stressed that continuing these subjects into higher secondary classes would not require additional financial or administrative burden, as they would function within the existing framework of second language options. The push for inclusion aligns closely with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multilingual education and the mainstreaming of regional and tribal languages. Dr. Subba reminded the Ministry that such a move would also be in line with Article 29 of the Indian Constitution, which protects the cultural and educational rights of minorities. Support for Dr. Subba’s demand has come from major community bodies including the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Denjong Sherpa Association, Sikkim Tamang Buddhist Association, and the All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association. These groups argue that their languages are vital not only to their community identity but also to the broader fabric of Sikkim’s multicultural heritage.
The MP has requested that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) be directed to implement the changes beginning with the 2025–26 academic session, at least in schools where a minimum number of interested students is recorded. He also called for a clear timeline and official notification to facilitate planning by schools and students alike.Dr. Subba’s intervention highlights a growing demand across northeastern India for more inclusive language policies in national education frameworks, particularly for communities whose linguistic traditions face the risk of erosion in the absence of institutional support.