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साताको कुराकानी Interview with Soma Devi Dura, 83
Only Surviving Speaker of Dura Language, Soma Devi tells Her Story
Soma Devi Dura, 83, the only surviving Dura language speaker from Lamjung. Photo: Smita
-Smita Magar in Kathmandu
काठमाडौं, April 1, 2008-When Soma Devi Dura speaks the Dura language there is no one who can speak it back to her or even understand what she is saying. This octogenarian lady has lived most of her life without having two way interactions in her very own language.
“I always want to speak in my language but as there is no one else who can speak or understand it, that is not possible,” says Soma Devi Dura, the only native speaker of the Dura language, which was spoken in parts of Lamjung and Tanahun districts in western Nepal about a century ago.
“The desire to speak my language is so strong that I find myself being stared at when I unknowingly speak Dura, even after starting the conversation in Nepali,” she added.
“Due to lack of interaction in Dura, she has forgotten the words for a few things,” regretted Kedar Bilash Nagila, who will research this language for his PhD following completion of his Masters level thesis on the same language.
“It is a challenge to find those forgotten native words,” said Nagila.
Although there are many challenges, Nagila is happy to have the support of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) and Dura Sewa Samaj. Soma Devi Dura is living in Kathmandu, making easier for him to study.
Soma Devi Dura is 83, living in Handikhola of Dura Danda, Lamjung. She can neither hear nor see well but recent medical treatment has improved her health considerably. Last year she had surgery on one eye and she has been provided with special hearing equipment for the documentation of the language.
Recalling her childhood, she tells how she learned Dura from her grandmother. “Even during those days very few villagers spoke the language but those who did were not only from Dura community; but also from Kami and other ethnic groups in the village,” she said.
She remembers being scolded and even disliked by playmates and elders who did not understand her when she spoke.. “That finally made me stop speaking in Dura,” adds Soma Devi. “Perhaps because they did not understand the language they discouraged me, but I continued speaking with my grandmother.” Determination showed in her face as she remembered.
When she married at early age, into a family that did not speak Dura, there was no one to converse with in Dura. Neither her husband, son, or five daughters can speak Dura. “I wish my children would ask me to teach them but they have no interest, asking ‘what is the use of language that no one understands?’. I wish they would instead ask ‘Teach us Mother! We will learn!’ ” Then she smiles and reveals that she has been teaching Dura to her niece, Kamala Dura’s daughter-in-law. “Whenever we meet we start talking in Dura. She has been learning fast and can speak in broken form but it is a really good feeling when I get to talk in my language,” she adds.
Soma Devi with her niece Kamala Dura.
Kamala Dura, Soma Devi’s niece says that Soma Devi Dura asks her to try to speak in Dura and even gets angry when she cannot. Says Kamala: “It upsets me to be unable to speak her language but the tone and words come differently when we try. It would have been easier if we had been taught during childhood, but everyone around us spoke Nepali so we learned to speak Nepali instead,” she adds.
Soma Devi says she is hopeful for the future. “If everyone shows interest in speaking the language I will speak and they can follow me. It will be easier to learn that way and it will surely also revive the language when many will be able to speak it,” she explained. “This is the hope and desire that has brought old people like me so far from home so that future generations will speak the language.”
Soma Devi with researcher Kedar Bilash Nagila. Photos: Smita Magar
Researcher Kedar Bilash Nagila, Kishore Dura, President of Dura Sewa Samaj and Member Secretary of the NFDIN Lok Bahadur Thapa are also hopeful that accurate documentation of the language will revive the dying language of the Dura community through the dedicated efforts of Soma Devi Dura.
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