I Want to Save My Galo Language and My Tribal Culture

Galo language is a Tibeto-Burman Language and is one of the diverse languages in the world.

Many tribal languages in the world have become extinct.

(Photo: Shruti Mathur/The Quint)

India ge Arunachal Pradesh ara hogo ngunu Galo e 1.5 lakh population go nyum be idu. Ngunu Galo be agaom jabdu. Galo language/agom higi Tibeto-Burman language lo adu. Tibeto-Burman language higi higo-dogo hoke yeben yaru na language/agom go emla malen tu. 2008 ogo Arunachal Pradesh State Assembly e Galo agom him Galo ge official language/agom be recognised/kalen jitu ku. Okke State Government e School lo third language be Galo be pori dobe emla notice molen toku.

Higo-dogo hi tribal language yaka go ngeka ku. Aige agom em jabma nam lega agom gad higi ngedak kunna. Agom e ngeku yom, agom mi ngum ngema du. Hok Ngek lo culture okke custom e sin ngetak dakku. India hi sin Hindi e ngeye kude la emla office lo hindi be jabdo be emdu ku. Okk gaibe ngun Galo gadde sin Galo agom e ngema dome Galo mok gad hogo Galo be jabngam laku juka. Embe ibbolo Galo agom e dobe ye okke ngunuk Ane-Abo ge yeg dug nam doyii gadde sin dobe ye.

(In the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh, the Galo tribe’s population is only 1.5 lakh. We, the Galo, speak in Galo language. Galo is a Tibeto-Burman language and is one of the most diverse languages in the world. In 2008, the Arunachal Pradesh State Assembly recognised it as the official language of Galos. Thereafter, the state government issued a notification to include Galo as the third language in schools in Galo-dominated areas.

Many tribal languages in the world have become extinct. The reason for their extinction is the lack of use which also eradicates tribal culture and customs. If the government passes a regulation to use Hindi for official communication, I feel the Galos should also use Galo language in their areas to save the language. If we do so, our Galo language will be preserved and we can save the culture and customs of our forefathers.)