Yakthung Indigenous Place Names
Hitaram Tilling
Ancient Yakthung Place Names
The Mundhumi sites found in Yakthung Mundhum are ancient Yakthung place names. The names of rivers of the then Limbuwan were mainly formed by adding the suffix “wa” (meaning water)” (such as Tamwa, Thamwa, Kharangwa, Mewa, Maiwa, etc.), and most of these names remain established to this day. In Yakthung Mundhum, place names are formed mainly by adding suffix words such as lung (stone), bung (tree), den (place), jong (hill), and tap (forest). Even though some places' names have been corrupted over time, those formed by adding lung, bung, den, jong, and tap still exist.
Place names formed by adding lung – Fakthanglung, Phalelung, Pandholung, Thaklung, Sumha?lung, Taklung, Pepelung, Chanjanlung, Hangsemlung, Miyanglung, Khiveklung, Phulilung, Seselung Thakkelung, Changlung, etc.
Place names formed by adding bung – Timbung, Mukti Bung, Lumphabung, Phunchebung, Mucchebung, etc.
Place names formed by adding den – Nighuraden, Henkhamden, Fewaden, Kawangden, Thamaden, Yepden, etc.
Place names formed by adding jong – Taplejong, Pomejong, Myajong, Tillingjong, Namlungjong, Chemphujong, Yaksejong, Agejung, etc.
Some examples include place names formed by adding tap – Phedap, Sudap, Khaktap, Singthap, Pardhap, etc..
Muktibung/Mukkumlung of Taplejong has been named Pathibhara.
Nepalized Yakthung Place Names
The place names of the then Limbuwan region are primarily found in the Yakthung/Limbu language. Some place names originally derived from the Limbu language have become corrupted and meaningless when pronounced through the Nepali language. Limbu language place names have been given since ancient times based on stones and soil, plants and trees, villages and places, hills and ridges, forests, and jungles. Recently, place names have been given based on geographical features, history, events, clans, and natural disasters. Many Limbu-origin place names have been Nepalicized.
Padhe of Dhankuta has been corrupted and renamed Bodhe.
Some Nepalized place names in the Dhankuta district are – from Tenuwa to Tenupa, Parden to Parewadin, Khamnera to Khamdanda, and Padhe to Bodhe. Some place names in the Ilam district are – Chambeta became Chaimaita, Namselung became Namsaling. Some place names in Panthar district are Sangwahumba became Sangrumba, Warangamba became Hawarangi, Chentaktu became Chyangthapu. Some place names in Sankhuwasabha district Lungthaki became Nundhaki. Some place names of the Taplejung district – Thechangbung became Thechambu. Some place names in the Tehrathum district – Murahang became Morahang, Hangmalung became Hamrajung. These are only few examples. Limbu place names are still being Nepalicized today.
Miyanglung of Tehrathum has been corrupted, and Myanglung has been renamed.
Campaign to Restore Yakthung Place Names to Their Original Form
Recently, with the arrival of non-Limbu people in the then Limbuwan area, the Limbu language place names here have not been pronounced correctly and have gradually been Nepalized. It has also been found that the old place names here have been changed based on the names of people, clans, leaders, martyrs, religions, deities, and so on. Such changes erase the history and civilization of the related places. Therefore, the local stakeholders must conduct an in-depth study and research and rename the Limbu language place names. Corrupted place names must be restored to their original and authentic form. Nepalicized place names must be renamed in the Limbu language to preserve history and civilization. If renaming is to be done this way, after studying history and civilization, the place names of local rural municipalities and municipalities should be renamed using ancient or original names.