The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, has taken up an extensive project to produce documentaries on the linguistic and cultural aspects of the State of Sikkim.
The 50-episode programme will take a new look at the language, folklore, religion, lifestyle, society and culture of the North Eastern State.  A private channel has agreed to telecast the documentary in 50 episodes of half an hour each, every Sunday.
Documentation of five languages has already been completed. “We are recording the words and sentences used by the people in order to preserve them,” he adds. Singh commended the Pawan Chamling-led State government for its co-operation in producing the series.
“Documentaries on Sikkim have so far focussed on cultural programmes that take place in cities. But this time, not only have we explored the deep interiors of the State’s breathtaking forest terrain, but also are using sophisticated high definition cameras and equipment to bring out even the minute details of the State’s linguistic and cultural richness,” explains institute director Uday Narayan Singh.
Nepalese is the lingua franca here. In fact, there has been more encouragement from the Nepali side, and a Limboo-Nepali-English dictionary has already been brought out. Ironically, none of the Sikkim's languages are mutually intelligible.
Languages
The project comes at a time when there is an awakening among the people about protecting these indigenous languages. What stares the languages here in the face, is what is called ‘biological endangerment’, where there are fewer and fewer speakers with the passage of time, explains Singh. More and more youngsters are keen on learning languages like Nepali, Hindi and English.
Another interesting feature of the State has been the frequent change of its capital and borders. Darjeeling and Kalimpong were once part of the kingdom ruled by the Lepcha kings since the seventh century. Later, the British paid the royal family Rs 6,000, a princely sum those days, to make the two cities part of their territory! Descendants of Chowgials, the later royal family, now live abroad. Buddhism came to the State from Tibet, making it the majority religion here. 
Sikkim is a unique State being home to people speaking 11 languages, including Limboo, Tawang, Gurung, Rai (Baitawa, Kulung), Bhotia, Lepcha, Nepali, Magar, Nevari, Sherpa and Sunwar. Nepal, Bhutan, West Bengal and Tibet surround this beautiful State.
“Interestingly, a script called Rong Chhyo had been developed as early as the seventh century for Sikkim’s languages. Each of the languages now has a literature committee to prepare syllabus for textbooks and examination models,” he says. There is a plan to train teachers in these languages at the Mysore centre on the use of modern teaching methods. “We have already helped in preparing syllabi for Karnataka’s dialects like Tulu, Konkani and Kodava,” Singh adds. Also, there is a plan to bring out books, backed with CDs and DVDs to document the culture and unique rituals of the land, in association with an UK-based publishing house.