If the language has stood the test of time, it's thanks to the personal efforts of the population, a few writers, many singers and a host of artistes, says Dr Pavi Ramhota, Anthropologist and secretary of the IDC.

“It is a language that unites Mauritians of all castes, creeds and colours. It is spoken by all communities, and this includes Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Chinese and even Whites. It's a language of love... the soul of the Mauritian diaspora. That's why we can't be indifferent to it. We'll have to give it its due respect and identity,” he adds.

Dr Ramhota, who is involved in numerous research projects, thinks a knowledge of Bhojpuri “is a must” for those who undertake anthropological research, particularly qualitative, in Mauritius.

“Knowledge of the language can help in the development and promotion of oral history in the country, to understand  the evolution of its social life, the emergence of different places of worship, among others. That's why, if we want to understand our country and our people, and promote successful, unbiased research, we need to give a better deal to Bhojpuri,” he adds.

Dr Ramhota says the IDC has taken the resolution at the end of the Bhojpuri Mela ( August 21-31) to convince the authorities to recognise Bhojpuri as a language and introduce it in schools from pre-primary level “to help the teaching/learning process and to save the language from deteriorating under the influence of other languages.”

Love and unity
Jugdish Goburdhun, president of IDC, says the Mela was an occasion “to think loud in Bhojpuri. We have come to the conclusion that we must save it. Bhojpuri is our mother. We have to respect it and give it its rightful place.” From the speeches and the papers presented during the workshops, he says, there's a consensus that people want the language to stay. And for that there is need for a Speaking Union on the same line as the Marathi, Tamil, Telegu and Hindi.

“And why not also a Kreol Speaking Union? Kreol and Bhojpuri are sister-languages. If Bhojpuri is our mother, Kreol is our 'mowsi' (mother's sister). We love her as mush as we do Bhojpuri. Both these languages belong to the Mauritian diaspora and have been truly instrumental in promoting love and unity in the country.

“I am told even the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture along with some of his colleagues are all for giving Bhojpuri its true identity. I think it's time all stakeholders should come round a table to decide on the future of the language. In any case, the IDC will continue the struggle to save it,” Goburdhun says.

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute has carried out numerous works on the language, its literature and folklore, among others, during the last 25 years. Goburdhun says these works must be made known to the public.

“They are materials that can go a long way towards improving both the written and spoken quality of the language. Today many speak the language with a faulty accent and use words from other languages. This is understandable, particularly when we know how the Bhojpuri speaking child is today exposed to other language influences than his own mother tongue when he steps into a kindergarten.

“Formerly, it wasn't the same. The child went to school after the age of five and until then he was with his parents and grandparents at home conversing in Bhojpuri most of the time. This is why we say it has to be introduced in schools along with  Kreol, French and English,” Goburdhun says.

200 million speakers
Besides Mauritius, Bhojpuri is spoken in India, in  the western part of the state of Bihar, the northwestern part of Jharkhand, and the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, the southern plains of Nepal and in Guyana, Surinam, Fiji, and Trinidad and Tobago. Its vocabulary is drawn from Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu and other Indo-Aryan languages of northern India. Some 200 million people speak the language all over the world, with India alone accounting for some 150 million.

“The accent differs from region to region. In India, for instance, it is said that the taste of drinking water changes every six kms while accent changes after every 12 kms,” says Dr Arunesh Neeran, General Secretary of Vishwa Bhojpuri Sammelan.

“This does not matter. Mauritius has its own kind of Bhojpuri. It is the language of culture and identity of a people. It's a way of life. That's why, it is in the interest of the Mauritians to protect it. I think both Bhojpuri and Kreol should co-exist - one gives identity and the other provides a way of living.”

Dr Neeran, who was guest at the Bhojpuri Mela, finds it “interesting” that a Mauritian speaks five languages - English, French, Hindi and other oriental languages, along with Bhojpuri and Kreol. “This exposure to different languages can only be beneficial to the overall development of one's personality. It does not matter if Mauritian Bhojpuri includes many Creole, French and English words. These have crept in because there's little exposure to the native language.”

To promote the language, he says, there's need for three things - grammar, dictionary, and history and literature of the language.

“All these exist now,” assures Paramhans Tripathi, president of the Vishwa Bhojpuri Sammelam. “We are busy building a strong international network to share our experience and what is available in the language. Many universities in Bihar and elsewhere in India are teaching the language. It's on the right track,” he adds. He recalls some eminent Bhojpuri personalities are the first president of India, Rajendra Prasad, actor Manoj Bajpai, and former Indian Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

“It is a language that is fast developing. Many films are now even being made in it, and with success. I think, it is in the interest of Mauritius to protect its Bhojpuri. The day it dies, your identity will be dead,” he adds.