ITANAGAR, Nov 14: Banwang Losu, developer of the Wancho script and founder and Executive Director of the Wancho Literary Mission (WLM), Longding district, visited Uppsala University, Sweden, from November 6 to 14 at the invitation of the university's Department of Linguistics and Philology to deliver a series of academic talks and engage in scholarly discussions on the development, documentation and promotion of the Wancho language.
The primary focus of the academic engagement was the historical journey and development of the Wancho script, its technological advancement, the successful achievement of Unicode recognition, and its growing application in education, digital communication, linguistic research and institutional settings.
Losu shared his experiences and research contributions towards developing a writing system for the Wancho language, establishing its digital foundation and expanding its use in formal education and academic publications.
The discussions also explored the broader challenges of preserving indigenous and endangered languages through script development, digital technology, language documentation and community-based educational initiatives.
The programme was coordinated by the Department of Linguistics and Philology, whose academic engagement helped strengthen the connection between international linguistic research and the community-based initiatives of the Wancho Literary Mission.
The Wancho Literary Mission, founded by Banwang Losu, is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, development and institutionalisation of the Wancho language, literature, script and cultural heritage. As its founder and Executive Director, Losu has been leading initiatives in script development, Unicode implementation, textbook preparation, language education, linguistic documentation, research and the promotion of the Wancho language among younger generations. His work has contributed to bringing the Wancho language into the digital and academic domains while strengthening its presence in the formal education system.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation, Losu appreciated the support, cooperation and hospitality extended by the faculty members and the university community during his visit.
The visit is expected to open avenues for further academic collaboration, international research partnerships and wider recognition of the Wancho language and its cultural heritage.