“As the world observed International language day this week the people in Kashmir should have pondered on developing trends of talking to their children more intensely in Urdu and English languages but unfortunately less in Kashmiri language.”
Kashmiri language is the symbol of the regional identity of the people of Kashmir valley and almost half a dozen Kashmiri speaking districts of Jammu division including Doda Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri. However unfortunately the parents in most parts of Kashmir Valley have set a bad trend of talking to their children in Urdu and English instead of Kashmiri language. Unfortunately most of children in 21st century particularly those living in urban and semi-urban areas are not talking in Kashmiri language with greater fluency. On its part Government has declared Kashmiri a compulsory subject upto 9th class years ago but parents developing a trend of talking to their children in Urdu and English languages are reducing the impact which teaching Kashmiri upto class 9th would develop on the hearts and minds of children. As the world observed International language day this week the people in Kashmir should have pondered on developing trends of talking to their children more intensely in Urdu and English languages but unfortunately less in Kashmiri language. Reversing the trend of talking to children more frequently in Kashmiri language and less in Urdu and English is one of the ideal ways to secure the future of Kashmiri language and onus lies more on the parents and less on the teachers teaching Kashmiri in Government and Private Schools. It is for the parents and the teachers teaching Kashmiri in schools to ensure that children develop absolute perfection in talking to them in Kashmiri language. Kashmiri language not spoken and written well by children within and outside their homes and schools is developing a crisis of cultural identity in Kashmir which deserves and demands immediate attention of both the school heads and as well as parents not only in Kashmir Valley but also in Kashmir speaking districts of Jammu division.
“While the greater responsibility to develop proficiency in Kashmir language among children lies on parents and teachers teaching Kashmiri in schools, a major awareness campaign to develop the trend of daily conversations in Kashmiri language with the children in schools and homes if initiated by dozens of cultural organisations working for promotion of Kashmiri language can secure the future of Kashmir language.”
Holding daily conversations with children in Kashmiri language could be one ideal way of preserving Kashmiri language as such a trend can connect children with the glorious history of Kashmiri language besides arts and regional traditions of Kashmir Valley. It is for the teachers and parents to ensure that compulsions of a shift in educational system do not disconnect children with their mother language (Kashmiri) and instead connect them with glorious past of the Kashmiri culture besides local arts and traditions. While the greater responsibility to develop proficiency in Kashmir language among children lies on parents and teachers teaching Kashmiri in schools, a major awareness campaign to develop the trend of daily conversations in Kashmiri language with the children in schools and homes if initiated by dozens of cultural organisations working for promotion of Kashmiri language can secure the future of Kashmir language.
