Research on uses of Bhojpatra begins

By Our Correspondent Jumla, July 2: The Mid-West University has begun studying Bhojpatra or the Himalayan birch which is used as paper to write important documents in  ancient period. Teachers and students of the University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication have started researching the birch tree found in the forests of Karnali to analyse its uses and benefits.

Lecturer Yuvaraj Sharma and students of the department along with Jumla district President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Netra Bahadur Shahi and journalist Binod Bhattarai are looking into the birch for a research paper.

Lecturer Sharma told The Rising Nepal that he came to Jumla to study the birch tree and the ancient practice of communicating through letters written on its bark with ink. He said he was happy to be in the place where Nepali language originated from and explore such a traditional media possibly in use since the days of the Khas Empire.

He said that the study had helped him learn new things. “I used to think Bhojpatra meant writing on the leaves of the tree. I had never imagined that the people here used to peel and write on the different layers of the bark,” Sharma shared. “I am so glad to be here in the land of such rich culture.”

Sharma also stressed on the need for the youths to research traditional media in use in various parts of Nepal including the Bhojpatra here in Jumla.

Tunganath Upadhyaya of Kankasundari Rural Municipality-3, who is an expert of Khas culture, informed that bark from the upper part of the tree was better for writing. However, Bhojpatra, called Bhujpatra in the Khas language, is also used as roofing material for houses. It can also be used to make sticks and plates, said local Ramananda Acharya.