In a landmark decision the state government Monday made Kashmiri, Bodhi and Dogri languages compulsory for 9th and 10th classes in the areas where these languages are spoken as mother tongue.
As per government order no 333 EDU OF 2017 issued on 19-06-17, the three regional languages will be treated as compulsory sixth subject for class 9 from academic session 2018-19 and for class 10 from 2019-20 in all government-run and recognized private schools of the state.
The three languages were already taught from class 1 to 8 throughout the state following the decision in 2000 by the then Farooq Abdullah government. The effective implementation of the Abdullah government’s decision was achieved from 2004 onwards under the PDP-Congress government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
The government decision has been welcomed by the stakeholders who see it as a first step towards preserving the vernacular languages, particularly Kashmiri, which is spoken throughout the valley.
AMK in a meeting convened on Tuesday under its President Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari passed a resolution hailing the government decision.
Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) hailed the government decision and thanked Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Education Minister, Syed Altaf Bukhari and Secretary School Education, Farooq Ahmad Shah.
“Our long pending demand has been met. Kashmiri is the symbol of our identity and we are incomplete without Kashmiri language as a part of our upbringing in the schools,” reads the resolution passed by AMK in its meeting chaired by President Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari.
The AMK resolution acknowledged the keen interest shown by the government and urged for immediate steps to be taken to effectively teach Kashmiri language in these classes in Kashmir division and from the beginning in the Kashmiri speaking areas of Jammu division.
Welcoming the government decision, noted Kashmiri poet, Rehman Rahi said that the decision has first and foremost accorded recognition to Kashmiri language and the long awaited demand of the academicians and intellectuals of the state has been met.
“In a function held recently, the chief minister stressed on the need of speaking Kashmiri language more often and today this decision has reaffirmed her intent. It will immensely help the language to grow,” Rahi told Kashmir Post.
Meanwhile, Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language, Dr. Aziz Hajni credited the historic decision to AMK which has led a tireless campaign for Kashmiri language over the years.
“The journey started when I was heading AMK and the then Omar Abdullah government had also cleared it, but some elements in the government sabotaged it,” Hajni said, adding that the decision is a result of incumbent AMK President Shujaat Bukhari’s efforts.
He said the government move will now preserve the language and the posterity will hail the decision which will reconnect them with their roots.
Noted poet and critic, Zareef Ahmad Zareef said even though there are well qualified master’s level students of Kashmiri language, but the government needs to appoint them at 9th and 10th class levels rather than its own staff “which lacks in-depth knowledge” of these languages.
“It’s a good decision and there is a good bunch of Kashmiri knowing people but they need to be inducted into the system,” Zareef told Kashmir Post.
Expressing serious concern over the decline of Kashmiri language, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said the native language is “our first and topmost identity”.
“We don’t speak Kashmiri, which is the biggest concern for all of us. Our children prefer to speak in other languages,” Mehbooba said while speaking at the award distribution ceremony of Best Book Award 2015 organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) at Tagore Hall here.
She said people in Kashmir have forgotten their own language, which is a “first and top most identity for all of us than any other thing”.
“Our children can learn Urdu and English in schools and outside homes but they can learn Kashmir at home, the first place of learning,” said Mehbooba, who is also president of JKAACL.
She said the parents feel happy when their children speak English but “we should also make them learn our own language.”
The CM said the State has a rich treasure of art, culture, and literature, which should be restored, preserved and taken to the future generations.
She appealed people to come forward and donate pieces of art and heritage to the Academy so that they are preserved.
Mehbooba announced setting up of an art gallery at the Hari Niwas Palace so that pieces of art are properly preserved and people get an opportunity to witness these rare artifacts in an ordered manner.
She also honored well know writer Ghulam Nabi Gowher and Bashir Makhdoomi for donating several manuscripts to the Cultural Academy.
Earlier, Mehbooba inaugurated exhibition of Rare Quranic Manuscripts, which were put up by the Department of Libraries & Research during the exhibition.
Put on display at the exhibition included some rare and exquisite Islamic manuscripts and copies of Holy Quran. These include a hand written Quranic manuscript of 1300 hijri, Quranic manuscript written during the reign of emperor Jehangir, Quranic manuscript written in gold blended ink, correspondences of the Holy Prophet (SAW), commentary of Holy Quran in local calligraphy by Fataullah Kashmiri of 1237 and other hand written commentaries of the Holy Quran dating back to early times.
The Department of Libraries & Research had also put some rare Quranic manuscripts on display during the exhibition. Prominent among those were a rare manuscript in Tuluth style with walnut wood binding dating back to very ancient times.
The CM evinced keen interest in the manuscripts put on display and directed officials to take measure for their proper upkeep and maintenance.
Another rare manuscript written in Tuluth style with walnut wood binding believed to be around 300 years old was also on display.
Minister of State for Culture, Priya Sethi; Jnanpith awardee, Rehman Rahi and Vice President, Cultural Academy, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas also spoke on the gathering.
Chairman, Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali; Minister for R& B, Naeem Akhtar; Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development, Asiea Naqash; Vice Chairman, Wakf Board, Peer Muhammad Hussain; Chairperson, Women’s Commission, Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor; several legislators; Director, Libraries & Research, Mukhtar ul Aziz; writers, academicians, cultural activists and people in large numbers were present on the occasion.
