Kathmandu: National Assembly (NA) Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal has shared that inclusive, equitable and creative use of technology was indispensable for the preservation of identity, language and culture of the indigenous nationalities.
Addressing a programme organised at Basantapur Dabali on the occasion of 31st International Day of the World Indigenous People, Chairman Dahal opined that indigenous knowledge, tradition, language, music, script, art and cultural heritages of the indigenous nationalities could be documented, preserved and promoted through artificial intelligence (AI).
“Our languages, our stories and our prospective are not in AI database. It’s time to utilize technology in our favour. Otherwise, there is a risk of further exclusion and discrimination,” he mentioned. The NA Chairman argued that there could arise more challenges than the opportunities if active participation of the indigenous nationalities was not ensured in technology.
Presenting an example of positive use of technology, he stated that containing Nepal Bhasa, a language of Newar Community, in Google translate is a successful effort to expand linguistic identity at the international level.
On the occasion, special presentation of the Newari language and food items of Tharu Community were performed. Likewise, Dahal opined that inclusion, federalism, republic and secularism should be implemented for the welfare of indigenous nationalities. “Guarantee of cultural rights of the indigenous nationalities in the process of transforming diversity into unity is mandatory,” he mentioned.