SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This article has been prepared by employing unpublished original Limbu sources collected in the eighteenth century. It begins with an introduction of the first literary figure of the Limbus known by the nickname Sirijanga, who is credited to be the founder of the Kiranti or Sirijanga script. This section deals with the historicity of Sirijanga and his literary contribution for the revival of Limbu culture, the meaning of the name Sirijanga and the true historical name of this great literary sage of the 18th century. The name Rupihang Raya has been identified to be the historical name of Sirijanga on the basis of Sirijanga's own writings collected in Sikkim by British Resident in Nepal and prominent scholar of Oriental studies Brian Hodgson during the mid-nineteenth century, which are currently deposited in the Oriental section of the British Library. In order to discuss the time and place of birth, childhood, early life and education of Sirijanga a separate section in the article is allocated. For the purpose of understanding the major contributions of Sirijanga a separate discussion on his historical works relating to the revival of Limbu ethnic culture is included. Important portions of such texts have been excerpted with translations. In the conclusion of the article, besides a summary of the text, a theoretical discussion on cultural and religious hegemonies of greater cultures over minor ethnic traditions is included with an example of Limbu movement of ethnic revival. This includes the history of hegemonies of Tibetan Buddhist, Sikkimese Bhotiya rulers and Lamas and the Gorkhali authorities of Nepal in the eastern Himalayan in general and over the Limbus in particular. The peaceful and knowledge based movement led by Sirijanga against these hegemonies over the Limbu is the main focus included in the conclusion of the article.