Language autonomy is closely linked with the autonomy, influence and circumstances of the community that speaks it. In this paper, I investigate the topic of standard languages and relate it to the difference between the varieties of the Nepali language spoken in Nepal and India, and examine how this linguistic variation affects the Nepali-speaking communities of India who are also known as “Indian Gorkhas”. Theoretically, I draw upon Stefan Dollinger’s concept of pluricentricity to analyze the interrelation of linguistic varieties and identity. The structure of the paper is as follows: first, it conducts an exploration of the history of both communities. I examine the historical periods in which the Indian Gorkhas separated from Nepal’s Nepali-speaking community and the reasons behind this division. The historical analysis is followed by an exploration of the political and cultural aspects of the divide between the two communities. Drawing on the historical, political and cultural analysis, I investigate the role of standard language ideology in shaping the social status of the two above-named varieties of Nepali and how this social status impacts these languages in turn.
Keywords: Nepali, Linguistic Variation, Ideology, Identity, Gorkhas
Word count - 4568
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