A group of 150 men and women from the Lepcha community has undertaken a long-distance march from Kalimpong to Kolkata, calling for the inclusion of the Lepcha language in West Bengal’s school textbooks. The march began on December 10, 2025, under the banner of Save Lepcha Language and aims to bring statewide attention to the need for linguistic preservation within the education system.
The participants reached Siliguri on December 11 and plan to continue their journey across West Bengal without major halts until they arrive in Kolkata. Upon reaching the state capital, the group intends to submit a formal petition to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, urging the government to integrate the Lepcha language into the school curriculum.
The Lepcha community, primarily residing in the Kalimpong and Darjeeling hills, has raised concerns about the declining use of their native language. Despite being one of the region’s indigenous languages, Lepcha is currently not included in mainstream school textbooks in West Bengal. Community representatives have stated that the absence of Lepcha in the education system poses challenges to its long-term preservation.
The march aims to draw attention to these concerns by highlighting the importance of formal recognition and educational inclusion. Participants are traveling through multiple districts, documenting their progress and receiving support from various local groups along the route. The initiative reflects a broader cultural effort to preserve indigenous languages amid increasing pressure from dominant regional and national languages.
The march is expected to reach Kolkata in the coming days, after which the group plans to meet state officials to present their demands. Further developments are anticipated as the movement progresses toward the state capital.
