Ayaan Saroori
In several states of India, several voices have gained momentum to preserve the mother tongues from eradication. This is silent issue which need more individual, political, organizational and community level support to survive. As in many states, the teaching of mother tongue with its ‘Qaida’ has been eliminated and damaged linguistic culture with high risk of increased fading in the smart era. Similarly, in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, there are several languages which are suffering from the hazardous extinction in future. In Chenab valley-where Kashmiri, Urdu, Kishtwari, Bhaderwahi, Sirazi, Bhallesi and other local languages speakers still persist. But among these languages spoken in different parts of the region, Bhaderwahi, Kishtwari, sirazi and other less speaking local languages alarms for early revival.
While an organization namely “The Chenab Times foundation” has raised its voice regarding preserving the mother tongues- that fall under Chenabi identity such as Baderwahi, Kishtwari, Sirazi and others. In terms of language revival, they mentions for the preference of these languages at state level in schools especially from the kindergarten level. Meanwhile, we are in dire need to maintain and preserve our language heritage throughout the region as it will not only preserve our identity but also reflects some legacy of our ancestors. Our mother tongue in the UT varies differently-some speaks Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Urdu, Hindi, Sirazi, Bhaderwahi, Kishtwari. However, some dialects are not in use at large and fading gradually. While exclusively Kashmiri, Dogri and Gojri languages are in use as speaking medium but less speaking languages such as Baderwahi, Kishtwari, Sirazi need more preference and revival as they are fading with crisis.
Kashmiri language: A Young Kashmiri’s Perspective on Mother Tongue Loss
While interviewing and discussing this issue with a Kashmiri youngster (17) on the basis of anonymity, I found several alarming points which need to be entertained. As languages are part of our culture and our environment-family as well as friend-play an important role in our cultural boundaries. But the Kashmiri language has been taken into jeopardy by masses as .Many parents don’t allow their children to speak in their respective mother tongue that is Kashmiri in front of relatives and society. Excerpts:
Why don’t you speak Kashmiri as you are local and it’s your mother tongue?
I don’t have much exposure to Kashmiri languages so much. Whenever I try to speak Kashmiri, my Urdu language ascent gets worsened. So I don’t speak in Kashmiri with my family but can understand the language.
Do your parents allow you to speak Kashmiri ?
No! They don’t allow me to speak in it before family gatherings and relatives. As reason behind this is; a children who speaks Kashmiri in these events is seen as a “Chapri” [It has become as a gesture of lowness].However, both the parents and the society may contribute for its easy revival but it is replenishing so far.
What is your own Preference: Kashmiri, Urdu or English?
Urdu is often seen as the language of formal education and religion, while English is associated with success, intelligence, and global opportunity. This makes Kashmiri seem “less useful” to families like me. Moreover many people, especially in urban areas, associate speaking Kashmiri with being “uneducated” or “rural”. As a result, parents discourage their children from using it in order to appear modern or elite.
While discussing the issue of faded languages as Kishtwari we found that there is a need to include educational courses on the faded languages. Moreover, there is also a need to translate some interesting texts in these dialects to upgrade the interest of groups in these mediums. It also is applicable for all other dialects which are fading.
“Courses must be introduced in Kishtwari language and there is need to engage some intellects to translate important books in the mother tongue [Kishtwari]. While, a team of linguist should be formed by the regional government to eradicate the chances of fading of our mother-tongues”, Burhan Ahmed Mir, a local from Kishtwar, revealed during the discussion.
In conclusion, we have sidelined the usage of mother tongue. The revival of mother tongue cannot be achieved at an individual level but contribution of regional government along with society is necessary to subvert the revival. Policies regarding it should be inculcated in our education curriculum. Perhaps, it is a tough time as many children have lost their real taste of tongue due to non serious parental exposure towards their mother tongue. While the above interview of a young boy shows that generations have loses its hold over mother tongue-a part of our fading culture. Hence, we need to save the linguistic mediums to save our cultural identity from vanish.
(The writer is a freelance writer and columnist)
