The journey to preserve Nepal’s ancient scripts

Discover the revival of formerly banned calligraphy scripts in Nepal and the efforts to promote and preserve them.

Kathmandu, Nepal – Clad in an orange kurta and a Nepali dhaka waistcoat, Lalima Shrestha demonstrates the ancient art of Ranjana calligraphy in Dhulikhel. Displaying the Ranjana alphabet, she showcases the delicate strokes of each letter, emphasizing the therapeutic nature of writing in Ranjana Lipi.

A positive response

Rashmi Chhusyabaga, 22, who is a member of the Newar community, has the names of her family members written in Ranjana Lipi at the demonstration

Callijatra, founded to preserve Indigenous scripts, received overwhelming support after organizing calligraphy workshops. The teacher at Nepal Lipi Guthi compares the script components to the human body, enhancing the learning experience.

Sunita Dangol explains Ranjana alphabets at a workshop — Sunita Dangol, a member of Callijatra, explains the Ranjana alphabet at a workshop [Courtesy of Callijatra]

Decline of Nepal scripts

Sunita Dangol, a member of Callijatra, explains the Ranjana alphabet at a workshop

The use of Nepal scripts declined during the Rana dynasty, leading to the imposition of learning bans. Despite challenges, efforts are underway to reintroduce the scripts in modern education curricula.

In the 14th-century palm leaf a sutra from Buddhism is written in Ranjana Lipi — A 14th-century example of Ranjana Lipi: a sutra from Buddhism written on a palm leaf [Courtesy of Sarad Kasa, Asa Archives, Kathmandu]

Examples everywhere

Throughout Nepal, the ancient scripts are showcased in various forms, from prayer wheels to temple inscriptions. Their spiritual and historical significance extends beyond borders, with examples of their use found in international artifacts.

Anand Maharjan shows prayers wheels around Kathmandu that have Ranjana Lipi — On a tour around the Thahiti neighbourhood, Ananda Maharjan, founder of Callijatra, points to copper-coloured prayer wheels inside a stupa, explaining ‘The top and the bottom script is Ranjana Lipi’ [Ridhi Agrawal/Al Jazeera]

Training new learners

Efforts to train individuals in Indigenous scripts are gaining traction, with recognition from international projects and the development of educational apps. Digital platforms and workshops are being utilized to promote wider use of the scripts.

Suyogya Tamrakar assists Ranjana Lipi learners — Suyogya Ratna Tamrakar, an original member of Callijatra, assists new students in Ranjana Lipi. Tamrakar also designed the ‘Nepal Lipi-Ranjana Lipi’ IOS app [Courtesy of Callijatra]

Road ahead

Plans for script preservation and promotion include the development of new fonts and script tutorials for children. The aim is to ensure the continuation of these beautiful and historical scripts for future generations.