Origin &Importance Of Kashmiri Language

Rubia Hamid
Language is the medium of expression of ideas, feelings, thoughts and views with the help of words used in a sequence for framing sentences. So a proper methods and procedures have to be followed for using language as medium of expression of ideas, feelings thoughts and views. Undoubtedly the language is the basic mediums of communication in the world and presently almost 4,000 languages are spoken across the globe. Languages shape every aspect of life and even the researches and achievement in science and technology. Now when we talk about Kashmiri language, our mother tongue (usually called KASHUR), it has undoubtedly its own history, identity and importance. It has significant background and has been as such included in the 8th schedule of the constitution of India like other languages. It has a lot of vocabulary and literature in it. The broadness of this language is such that many people from within and outside country visit Kashmir to know all about the vocabulary of this language for the purposes of seeing scope for mixing it with the language of their own regions. The people who had the opportunity of going anywhere outside Jammu & Kashmir due to many reasons came back with the broader concepts of expanding the space for the Kashmiri language. This language is spoken, read and taught also in several areas of Jammu division like Poonch, Rajouri, Gool Gulab Ghad, Banihal, Ramban, Kishtwar and Baderwah, Basoli, Ramnagar and upper reaches of Jammu. No doubt the language has a little difference in the speaking of its dialect, but fact remains that this language is the mixture of many languages such as “shina”, “Kafir”, “Kuhistani”, “Dardi”, “Pahari” etc.
We have to accept other languages for the purposes of professional integration with other parts of the world but not at the cost of the growth and expansion of our own Kashmiri language which is our identity.
The Kashmiri language has a very glorious past. It is one of the oldest languages. As we look into its past different historians have their own views about it’s creation. According to some historians Kashmir was full of water called the sati “Satisar” and after the eradication of water, the people who came to settle here was the “Nag dynasty” who were linked to “DRARD” dynasty. The “ARYANS” (also called “Peshajs and “Dards”) also came to settle here. Both dynasties were comparatively different in civilization. Aryans were uncivilized as they often used to eat raw meat and due to their suppression many of the “Nags” left this place, but some managed to settle here. With the passage of time they came in close contact with the “Aryans” as a result of which a new civilization came into existence. With their transformation of words a new language named kashmiri came to the fore. The kashmiri language is sweat and easy to learn as this is the language that a child can learn from the mother’s lap, but unfortunately the people of Kashmir are not as acquainted with this language as they should have been. Though using the medium of English for education of children can’t be challenged or questioned, but acquaintance of the children with their mother tongue is equally important. Acquaintance with the mother tongue will keep our children emotionally attached with our culture and traditions. We have to accept other languages for the purposes of professional integration with other parts of the world but not at the cost of the growth and expansion of our own Kashmiri language which is our identity .We have to ensure acquaintance of children with the Kashmir language for the purposes of the preservation of our own culture and identity.
(The author is a school teacher by profession. Views are her own)