Importance of Language and
Culture for Survival as a Kashmiri Community
Dr. Roop Krishen Bhat
Kashmiri language is one of the major Indian
languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the constitution of India. It
is spoken by over 50 Lakh people. In the state of J&K there are about 40
Lakh people speaking Kashmiri. Rest of about 10 lakh people who have migrated
out of the state during the course of time are scattered in other parts of the
country and the world over. Since no census has been possible since 1981 in
J&K the figures are approximate. Besides there are Kashmiri speaking people
living in the Pakistan occupied part of Kashmir. Kashmiri language has rich
literary tradition and history of about 600 years of literature. Kashmir has
produced many eminent scholars whose contribution in various fields has been
globally recognized.
It is unfortunate that throughout the course of its history Kashmiri language
has never got appropriate government patronage. It was never made the official
language of the state. As a matter of fact this language could not become a
vehicle for transmission of history, information or knowledge. Mostly Kashmiris
had to rely on other languages for acquiring information and other competitive
skills. From time to time there have been conscious efforts to marginalise
Kashmiri language and literature in a bid to alienate a large section of people
of valley from the national main stream. This became obvious during the foreign
sponsored terrorism being perpetuated in the state of J&K for past more than
a decade now which resulted in a lare scale migration from the valley. As a
result of displacement Kashmiri Hindus have been scattered all over the world.
Immediately after the mass migration during early 90's the very existence of
the community was threatened. However, with hard work, knowledge, education and
tireless efforts at individual and collective levels, by now the community has
come out of the onslaught. By now people have readjusted and reconciled to the
new environment and new role in the society. However, the migrations as usual
have the expected fallouts. The major one being loosing of the language and
culture. It has been observed that people are gradually loosing their language
and culture. It may be underlined that language and culture are symbols of
identity for a community and a ommunity is known and named only through their
language. It is therefore obligatory for each and every member of the community
to keep his/her mother tongue alive. Culture is deeply embedded in language;
rather language is the lone carrier of cultural heritage, culture flows through
language. There is a difference between surviving and living. To make it precise
Kashmiri Hindus after the post migration period have simply survived. Living
would necessitate performing of our cultural rituals, customs, celebrating
festivals etc. in their original form and spirit as was done prior to the
migration, there by living a full, complete and holistic life.
The main question, which bothers every one of us, is how to keep our language
alive in the absence of Governmental support. In the absence of Governmental
support onus lies on the speakers themselves. Parents have a big role to
perform. They have to encourage their children to learn and speak Kashmiri in
their homes, social and religious functions. NGOs like the Kashmiri Samitis
within the country and across the globe the IEKF etc have bigger roles to play
by co-ordinating various social and cultural activities and organizing their
community. Opening cultural centers, organizing get togethers, functions,
seminars, workshops and providing language teaching materials to the members.
There are language learning materials available in Devnagri and Roman scripts as
well which could be of great help for retaining/learning of the language. Issues
of Kashmiri language have been of prime concern to the scholars and researchers
all these years, but such issues have not bothered the speakers in general.
Unless every speaker realizes consequences of ignoring his/her mother tongue or
culture, much could not be achieved. The luke warm attitude towards language
would definitely threaten the very existence of the community. Hence to live as
a community will obligate us to keep our language and culture alive.
It should be the responsibility of the non-Governmental organizations or
Kashmiri Samitis to run the courses for learning of Kashmiri language. The use
of script should be no bar for learning a language. Script could be choosen as
per requirement, as materials are now available in all the three scripts i.e.
Devnagri, Persio-Arabic and Roman. The Central Institute of Indian languages,
Mysore and its Northern Regional Language Centre, Patiala have recently produced
a three vol. Audio Cassette Course in Kashmiri which could be of great help in
learning or retaining of the language. Scientifically it is said that learning
of the script should not take more than 20 Hrs and spending of this much time
should not be very difficult for any one to whom the cause of survival as a
community member is of prime concern. As pointed out language is the only bond
which binds us together in one spoken community, sharing same origin, same
emotion and cultural moorings.
I have been insisting that we open Kashmiri Cultural Centre in every city
with sizable Kashmiri population; such centers should have all such facilities
which are required for living as a community, including facilities for learning
and speaking of Kashmiri language. Such centres could function as nodal centres
with complete cultural ambience, an art gallery, library, audio visual corner,
folk games etc. To begin with such centres could be established in cities like
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Banglore where a sizable Kashmiri population have
resettled after migration. It should be responsibility of these centres to
preserve, propagate and promote Kashmiri language and culture by providing all
necessary facilitates, organizing seminars.workshops.social functions and
exchanging language related materials.
A perfect planning and meticulous execution shall make all this possible
provided we move ahead with sincerity and honesty and devote some little time
for this common cause. We should keep Jews in mind who after hundreds of years
of their displacement and migration got reunited and resettled as a country in
Israel because they never compromised their language, literature and culture.
Our community is fortunate to have amongest us most celebrated scholars, writers
and linguists whose services could be utilized for achieving our objectives in
this regard.
Mailing address : The author is the Principal of Northern Regional
Language Centre, Punjabi University Campus, Patiala147002
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