Hari Chand Jalmeria
When the Constitution was framed and adopted on 26th November 1949 which was implemented on 26th January 1950, only 14 languages were inserted in the Eighth Schedule which included: 1. Assamese, 2. Bengali, 3. Gujrati, 4. Hindi, 5. Kanada, 6. Kashmiri, 7. Malayalam, 8. Marathi, 9. Oriya, 10. Punjabi, 11. Sanskkrit, 12.Tamil, 13.Telgu & 14.Urdu.
It was through 21st Amendment of the Constitution that Sindhi was added to the Eighth Schedule in the year 1967.
When agitations started for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling area of West Bengal and similar agitation in Manipur, the Union Govt. made a proposal for including Manipuri, Nepali and Konkani in the Eighth Schedule in the year 1992. These three languages were inserted in the year 1992 through 71st Amendment of the Constitution.
Dogri, despite having rich literature, cultural heritage and recognition by Sahitya Akademi since 1969, was not considered either in 1967 or in 1992.
When the proposal for inclusion of Manipuri, Konkani and Nepali in the Eighth Schedule appeared in news papers in early 1992, the Duggar Manch and Dogri Sanstha called meetings. Dogri Sangharash Morcha was constituted with specific agenda of launching struggle for inclusion of Dogri in the Eighth Schedule. Prominent writers, professionals, social and political activists joined the movement under the banner of Dogri Sangharash Morcha. Besides four office bearers: Mohan Singh(Convener), Prof Nilamberdev Sharma(Co-convener), Hari Chand Jalmeria (Secretary) and Gianeshwar Sharma(Treasurer), an Executive Committee was constituted which included: ND Jamwal, Dhan Raj Bargotra, Babu Permanand, DC Prashant, Hemant Sathe, Dhiyan Singh, Kashmir Singh, Gulchain Singh Charak, Dr. Champa Sharma, Dr. Veena Gupta, Prof Lalit Mangotra, Dr. Zahoor-Ud-Din, Dr. Virinder Gupta, Dr. OP Sharma, DK Khajuria, Raman Kesar, Surinder Gandalgal, S. Joginder Singh, R. S Chib, Dr. Taran Singh, Chander Mohan Sharma, Jugal Mahajan, Y. V Sharma, Yashpal Gupta, Prem Lata Bakshi, Maj.Gen.Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, Kumwar Viyogi, Janak Raj Gupta, Dharam Pal Sharma, Mirza Abdul Rashid, Ch. Lal Mohd Sabir, Ch. Talib Hussain, Ghulam Mohd. Associate members included: Sunil Dimple, Shashi Pathania, Sham Talib, Shivdev Singh Susheel, Sat Pal Misra, Romesh Pappa, Devinder Slathia, Vinod Misra, Dig Vijay Singh, Bhai Randeep Singh Parihar, Balwant Singh Bloria, Surinder Sharma, Sushil Sharma, Padam Dev Nirdosh, Vinod Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Sanjay Gupta.
Just after its formation, the Dogri Sangharash Morcha carried mobilisation in various districts of Jammu province and held a massive rally in Jammu city on 1st July 1992 which started from Indira Chowk and concluded in Zanana Park.
A delegation was sent to Delhi which reached there on 6th of June 1992. A memorandum signed by Dr. Karan Singh, Mohan Singh, Nilamberdev Sharma, Hari Chand Jalmeria, Padma Sachdev, Dhan RAj Bargotra, Kashmir Singh, Janak Raj Gupta, Bhim Singh, Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, ND Jamwal, Prof Champa Sharma, Raman Kesar, M. A Khan, Th. Hari Singh, Prof Veena Gupta, HR Sathe, S.Kuldip Singh, Rattan Lal Gupta, Bodh Raj Bali, Shabir Ahmed Salaria, Romal Singh Bhadwal, was given to Prime Minister, Ministers of Union Cabinet, Members of Parliament and leaders of Political Parties. This delegation besides making mobilisation among Dogras residing in Delhi, met some important political persons including Union Ministers:Arjun Singh, Sharad Pawar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, ML Fotedar,; Leaders of Political Parties: V. P Singh, Dr. Karan Singh, S. R Bommai, Hari Kishore Singh, Prakash Karat, Sita Ram Yechury, L. K Advani, MM Joshi, Jitender Prasad, Chaturanan Misra, Chander Shekhar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah etc. Ghulam Nabi Azad, being Parliamentary Affairs minister assured of including Dogri also in the Bill along with Manipuri, Konkani and Nepali.
On 8th July 1992, a massive procession was taken out from India Gate and rally cum Dharna was organised in Boat Club. Dr. Karan Singh who could not sit on ground had to sit in a chair in the dharna.
Prominent Participants were: Dr. Karan Singh, Surinder Mohan(Janta Dal), Hanan Mullah(MP of CPM), Janak Raj Gupta, Dharam Pal Sharma, Saifudin Soz, GR Kar, Shabir Ahmed Slaria(MP), Mirza Abdul Rashid, Mangat Ram Sharma, Balraj Puri, Bodh Raj Bali, Lal Mohd Sabar, Kashmir Singh, Dhan Raj Bargotra, S. Parduman Singh, S. HS Bali, Rattan Lal Gupta, Bhim Singh. Dr. Champa Sharma, Dr. Veena Gupta, Prof Nilamber Dev Sharma, Hari Chand Jalmeria, MA Khan, Gulchain Singh Charak, Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, Th. Hari Singh. writers: Padma Sachdev, Romal Singh Bhadwal, ND Jamwal, Shiv Dev Singh Sushil, Dhian Singh, Prof Riaz Punjabi, HR Pandotra, Puran Singh Puran, Balwant Thakur, S.Kuldip Singh, Bua Ditta, Vijay Verma.
The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha by Shabir Ahmed Salaria and in the Lok Sabha by Hannan Mollah.
On 1st August 1992, entire Jammu Pradesh observed complete Bandh in support of the demand for Dogri’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule on the call of Dogri Sangharash Morcha.
The State Administrative Council headed by the then Governor Girish Chander Saxena recommended the Dogri’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule on 11th August, 1992.
On 20th August 1992 when Bill was presented in the Parliament, Dogri was not included. In protest DSM committee members observed day long hunger strike in front of Civil Secretariat at Jammu on 22nd August 1992. They included: Mohan Singh, Prof Nilamberdev Sharma, Hari Chand Jalmeria, Dhan Raj Bargotra, ND Jamwal, Kashmir Singh, Prof Zahoor Ud Din, Prof Champa Sharma, Dhian Singh, HR Sathe, Raman Kesar, S.Joginder Singh, Prof Veena Gupta, Jugal Mahajan, Devinder Slathia, Sunil Dimple, Satpal Gupta, Shiv Mehta, Shatto Ram, Jagdis Raj.
Struggle continued in one or the other form. On 6th of July 1997, the Dogri Sangharash Morcha organised a larger convention at Abhinav Theatre Jammu where members of parliament of all parties were invited. Only Hanan Mollah of CPM member Lok Sabha from W.Bengal participated. Local MPs did not spare time despite being present in Jammu.
Zubida Salaria MLC raised issue in State Legislative Council in April 2001.
Dogri Sangharash Morcha delegation met the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 29th Sep 2001 at his New Delhi residence. The meeting was arranged by Padma Sachdev. Delegation comprised: Mohan Singh, Prof Nilamberdev Sharma, Hari Chand Jalmeria, Padma Sachdev, Dhan Raj Bargotra, Mirza Abdul Rashid(MP), Th. Randhir Singh, ND Jamwal, Dr. Lalit Mangotra, Parduman Singh Jandraya, Shiv Dev Sushil, Balraj Puri, Sat Saraf, Kashmir Singh, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Prof Veena Gupta, Ghulam Mohd, Pushap Saraf, HR Sathe.
Prime Minister Vajpayee after hearing the delegation for 45 minutes gave positive assurance.
Mirza Abdul Rashid again raised the issue in Rajya Sabha on 17th April 2002 seeking reply on Prime Minister’s assurance.
It was on 22nd December 2003 that the then bajpayee Govt. presented and got a bill passed in parliament for inclusion of Dogri, Bodo, Mathilli and Santhali in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Evening, when news came, we, Prof Lalit Mangotra, Parduman Singh Jandrayia, Prof Veen Gupta, H.C.Jalmeria, Er Bharat Bhushan Gupta, gathered in Dogri Sanstha and lighted candles as a first reaction.
People in Jammu came out in celebration on the roads next day. Jammu Bar Association headed by B. S Slathia, also gave rousing reception to me as member of Bar and Jugal Mahajan who accompanied me.
The media people played a great role in giving adequate projection to the struggle for Dogri in the Eighth Schedule. Number of editorials, articles, stories and news items were carried in the period of twelve years.