Tsewang Rigzin
LEH: A half-daylong seminar on importance of ‘Bhoti Language’ held at the Lotsawa Auditorium of the Cultural Academy Leh was attended by almost all stakeholders who felt that Bhoti language should get recognition under the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The meeting was organised by Bhoti Language Committee of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) Leh.
The importance, history and journey of Bhoti language since the 7th and 8th Century was presented by Dr. Thupstan Norboo and journalist Tashi Morup through a power point presentation.
Placing arguments why Bhoti deserved recognition under Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, activists of the language claimed that as many as 29,10,000 people speak the language from Ladakh to Tawang.
It was also informed that the State Governments of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and J and K have supported for recognition of the language. It came to fore in the meeting that a high level committee at the J and K Government has recommended 142 teachers’ posts for Kashmiri language for Leh which made no sense as there is not a single Kashmiri speaking person in Leh. Therefore the meeting unanimously urged the government that these posts be converted into Ladakhi/Bhoti teachers as there are only 34 Bhoti teachers posts for all 300 plus government schools in Leh. The committee also demanded creation of 12 lecturers’ posts for Bhoti. Congress Legislative Party leader and MLA Leh Nawang Rigzin Jora assured to inquire why 142 Kashmiri language teachers was recommended for Leh. Jora informed that J and K government had already sent its recommendation to the centre regarding inclusion of ‘Bhoti’ under 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution when Ghulam Nabi Azad was Chief Minister. MLA Nubra Deldan Namgyal also assured his support in this regard. President Anjuman Immamia Ashraf Ali Barcha said ‘Bhoti is our language and we need to collectively fight for its recognition rather than looking at it from narrowed religious prism’. President Sofia Noorbaksh City Leh Ghulam Hussain requested LBA to appoint some Bhoti knowing teachers to teach the script and language to the people residing in Turtuk area. Chaired by Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh Tsering Wangdus, among others the meeting was attended by President LBA Tsewang Thinles, Padmashree Morup Namgyal, Councillors of LAHDC, Leh and president Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, Leh Tashi Targais. The panel of scholars who responded to questions raised by participants included Prof. Jamyang Gyaltsan, Gey Thupstan Paldan, Sheikh Mohd Javed and renowned octogenarian scholar Tashi Rabgais. Leaders representing political parties also spoke on the occasion.
