Raji is spoken in Uttarakhand, India by the Van-Raji (or Raji), meaning ‘royal people of the forest’. Fitting, as until the 1980s, the Raji were primarily nomadic, making homes in the caves across the mountains up to the lower Kumaon belt. From this close relationship to nature, the Raji are known for their deep knowledge of medicinal plants—a knowledge which is unfortunately under pressure: in the late 1900s the Indian government forced the relocation of Indigenous peoples within the country, leading to language loss and cultural displacement. As of 2019, there were 889 speakers of the Raji language, the majority over the age of 50.
This project, led by Tulsi Rajbaar, with support from Kavita Rastogi, is focused on energizing the future generations of Raji speakers. In the first phase, they will establish a weekend play workshop for children for learning introductory word lists (such as colors, numbers, body parts, and so on). The next phase will emphasize conversation, specifically with grandparents who speak the language, ensuring familial bonds for the next generation of Raji speakers.