Today
Jestha 18, linguistic Black Day. On Jestha 18th 2056 VS (Tuesday June 1st, 1999), the Supreme Court
passed an unjust verdict regarding the linguistic rights and that day
has since been observed as the “Black Day”. The Black day represents the
indignation and dissatisfaction of the people towards the prohibitory
decision on the linguistic rights.
Eventhough all the mother tongues of Nepal are equal, the "Khas"
language had been unjustly dominating. On Shrawan 10th 2054 VS (Friday
July 25th, 1997), a board meeting of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City
decided to regard Nepala-bhasa as an official language for local
legislation. But some tyrant and non-democratic people who regarded Khas
language as the only dominating language filed a case against the
decision in the Supreme Court.
On 3rd Chaitra 2054 VS (Monday March 16, 1998), under the single bench
decision of Judge Hari Chandra Upadhyaya an interim stay order was
issued which prohibited the official use of Nepalbhasa (the Newar
Language) in KMC. Later on Jestha 10th 2056 VS (Monday May 24, 1999),
the Supreme Court passed a verdict prohibiting the use of Nepalbhasa and
Maithili language as official languages for local administration. This
unjust verdict given by the highest judicial body of the country on
Jestha 18 gave way to the annual observation of the Black Day.
Today's Lahana, a special edition ,
on this day.