Jugesh Singh Thakur
Language is an indispensable vessel that carries the heritage, beliefs, and values of a culture. It serves as a mirror reflecting the unique worldview and historical journey of a community. Language acts as a bridge that connects individuals within a society, enabling the transmission of cultural norms, customs, and narratives across generations. The words, expressions, and idioms within a language often encapsulate deep-rooted traditions, rituals, and shared experiences that have shaped the culture over time. In essence, language is a dynamic force that not only reflects culture but also actively shapes it. Languages absorb impacts from encounters with different cultures as they evolve, resulting in linguistic borrowings and adaptations. This interaction results in a complex amalgams of cultural interchange that is retained within the language.
Language can also serve as a means of resistance and preservation. Language is frequently used by communities to fight external cultural influences and to protect their traditions from extinction. Efforts to revive endangered languages underline the importance of these languages in conserving distinct cultural heritages. To summarize, language shapes culture by serving as a reservoir of history, values, and collective experiences. It is the means by which culture is communicated, preserved, and evolved, promoting a sense of identity and belonging among those who speak it.
The mother tongue, a linguistic cradle nurturing our intellect, embodies our heritage and emotions. It’s the conduit of culture, an eloquent vessel passing down wisdom through generations. Mother tongue, the language spoken by one’s parents and ancestors, holds profound significance in shaping an individual’s identity and cultural roots. It’s more than just a means of communication; it’s a vessel of heritage and belonging.
Firstly, mother tongue connects us to our family’s history and traditions. It carries the stories, values, and wisdom passed down through generations. Speaking and understanding it nurtures a sense of continuity and shared experience.
Secondly, mother language plays an important role in sustaining cultural variety. Languages are collections of distinctive phrases, idioms, and ways of thinking that represents the diversity of various communities. When we appreciate our mother language, we contribute to the global culture mosaic.
Furthermore, mother tongue helps successful communication. It’s the language in which emotions are most naturally conveyed, allowing for greater ties with loved ones. Proficiency in one’s mother tongue improves cognitive ability and helps in the learning of other languages.
In the breathtakingly beautiful region of Jammu, nestled amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal Himalayas, lies a treasure more precious than any jewel: the Pogali language. Pogali or Poguli, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in Ramban district of Jammu region, Jammu and Kashmir but it’s coordinates are spread out in almost every corner of Jammu region beyond New Delhi, India. Pogali language nestles within the realm of languages of western Pahari group.
It is mother tongue to lakhs, Pogali is not just a means of communication; it’s a living testament to the Area’s rich history, culture, and identity. Pogali, with its roots dating back over thousands of years, has evolved through a fascinating journey. It’s a member of the Dardic group of Indo-Aryan languages and boasts influences from Kashmiri, Sanskrit, Persian, we can call it as a fusion of languages. For the people of Pogal Paristan area, their language isn’t just a means of communication; it’s a bridge that connects them to their roots. Pogali is more than just words; it’s poetry, local Chans and ornamental traditions. The folk songs, called “Channa,” echo the daily life and aspirations of the people. .
Every person has immense devotion to his language. And this devotion arouses the emotions of every conscious human being. These sentiments can be helpful in checking each other’s thoughts in writing or speaking and paving the way for mutual love. In order to meet the goal of the development and priority of each language, the writers consider it their duty to serve the language to bring the truth of the language to the public with the force of their pen, and slowly, slowly, all the stages of development. Pogali dialect is distinguished among the western Pahari dialects of Jammu province. This dialect is the common heritage of the Hindus and Muslims.
Criticism is part of human nature. It is this criticism that the ancient man started covering his body with leaves and slowly abandoned it and used the better material, skin. Used imagining less dreams and instead of living in caves, built a building that seems to kiss the sky. Criticism if it is criticism for welfare building can be beneficial otherwise it takes the shape of a slow hemotoxic venom which eventually clots the functioning of heart and the head burdened over shoulders. If any aspect of development is mentioned, constructive criticism is necessary for it. In the same way different unhealthy ideas and speculations about the existence of Pogali language are floating in the market. The name has been around for centuries, how ignorant is it to criticize it jealously, to give favourable opinion about any aspect of existence enters the category of literature, where the ignorance can be unearthed. The idea of representing with other names is similar to calling white colour black.
It is true that Pogal Paristan was a part of the Kishtwar kingdom long ago. But it is also a fact that Pogal and Paristan was dignified as a Kingdom at different times, Pogali speakers migrated and settled in distant areas. In these areas, these people continued to promote the Pogali language by various means, by reciting poems and songs in the Pogali language and expressing their passion for the mother tongue Pogali. It is a matter of great fortune that great writers, poets, politicians and intellectuals of Pogali language were born in these areas.
It is impossible to name any of these reverent people. It was hoped that these people, with their high skills, would make a dent in the pogali language everywhere and work for the development and priority of the this language under one banner. But it is a matter of regret that a few people put on the lens of one’s own charm, resilient and tried to cross this unity and devotion. An example of which was set by the Pogali language. The language that its speakers who live in different regions were strung like pearls in a single necklace. These few people tried to demarcate it over the streak plate. They used to wash their heads and criticize it’s speakers with the word Pogali and tried to ornament many faces on one face they These few people take the reminiscence of Khash tribe and are endeavoring Pogali language with some different name. It is worth noting that ascribing the Pogali language to the name of the tribe is an admission of misrepresentation of history and is grossly unfair. Saying an unreal thing a million times can make it come true. On the basis of historical testimony , we can say that redressing any name to Pogali language, Pogali language will remain behind it, its body will be Pogali, its soul will remain Pogali, we have historical evidence cum research on this.
It Is the dialect spoken in the middle of the streets and alleys, which linguist George Grierson made innocent of this name a century ago, he has mentioned the Pogli language in his book Linguistics Survey of India. Thomas Graham Bailey mentions Pogali language in his book Languages of the Northern Himalayas. Professor Peter Hook an American university professor has mentioned Pogali Syntax in the Light of Kashmiri publication and mentioned Pogali syntax and Kashmiri syntax . Dr. Magroob Banihali has mentioned Pogali language frequently in his research articles. Pritam Krishna Koul mentions the Pogali language in his hindi book ‘Chandrabhaga ki tatwati Boliyaan’. Munira Fatima has written a book on the Pogali language called ‘Kashrch qadeem t ahm Boli Pogali’. Wali Muhammad Aseer has mentioned Pogali language in his Book ‘ Tasveer Zilla Doda. Muhammad Iqbal Naik has written a book on Pogali language ‘Pogali Ka Sootyati Nizaam’. Moulana Mohd Ismail Asri sir has mentioned the Pogli language in Tareeq Pogal Paristan with historical references. Devi Dass Thakur has mentioned the essence and sweetness of Pogali language and it’s speakers in his famous Autobiography ‘Yaado Kay Chiraag’. There is also a brief mention of Pogli dialect in History and Culture of Kishtwar book by DC Sharma sir.
The first mention of this dialect is found in Grierson’s book Linguistic Survey of India and sir Peter Hook has described the Pogli language as a branch of the Indo-Aryan Western Pahari Hindi dialects. He also narrates that there is a slight mutual difference in ascent and words after eight kilometres in the language.
In spite of these testimonies, if some another word in place of Pogali has settled in my heart and is flooding into my veins, then I should associate it with my name but should not try to spoil the facts of history. Because time never forgives those who fabricate and tries to blind play with the historical facts.
The Pogali language is centuries old. This language is spoken not only in this hill region of Pir Panjal Ramban, but in many areas of Jammu province because literature is born to survive and as long as the language survives the people survive. Expressing serious words in poetry or prose in Pogali is not a trivial task, although there are no specific rules for it yet. So far now no one has taken any special steps for the development and priority of grammar and script of this dialect.
Pogali language has a unique splendour in the iconic heights under the shadow of the Himalayas. The Pogali dialect is spoken in the mountains of the central region of Jammu and Kashmir. These mountain ranges include Pogal Paristan, Neel Chamalwas, Shagam, Tragam, Aham Kot, Kanthi Chabba, Sarbagni, Ramban, Chenani, Udhampur, Kathua, Jammu and Laar area of Reasi. Dr. GR Grierson of England conducted a major survey of Indian linguistics from about 1897 to 1925 in which he considered Pogali as a branch of dialects under the umbrella western Pahari group of languages and considered it a Kashmiri dialect derived from Shana. Peter Hook of America describes it as a branch of Indo-Aryan Western Pahari Hindi dialects. But as far as the structure of Pogali language is concerned, 75% of the words are from Kashmiri, while 15% are from a fusion of languages including Persian, Rajasthani and Sanskrit. This dialect is the common language of Hindus and Muslims, which they both speak in the same language. Even though the Pogali language is spoken in different areas, the people here have done their duty to preserve it and to protect it, which has attracted not only the linguists of the country but also the linguists of the western countries and European Union.
To understand or form an opinion about any language or dialect requires broad-mindedness and seriousness. Thanks to the Almighty, Pogali is my mother tongue. Pogali is a mixture of different languages, it’s land is fertile. That’s why the words of other languages have got a place in it.