Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: The Gujjar writers and intellectuals today expressed dismay over-treating Gojri and Pahari as one subject for Master’s Degree programme by Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri. They criticize the newly introduced ‘joint Master of Arts Degree Course’ in Gojri and Pahari, and demanded a separate MA course for Gojri in BGSB University.
In a meeting of the writer organized here by Tribal Research and Culture Foundation, the Gujjar community intellectual appealed to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter. They stated that Gojri is a separate language having its own folklore, literature and treasure of word-hoard which reflect the distinctiveness of the language and it deserves a separate course of MA.
Dr Javaid Rahi noted Tribal researcher stated that in Poonch-Rajouri area where the University is located, less than 20% people can speak both the language properly and the joint MA course in Gojri & Pahari can reduce the opportunities for speakers to opt for their mother tongue to do masters degree. He stated that hundreds of books are available in Gojri to start a separate MA course.
The speakers stated that the Gojri and Pahari are two separate languages and both have separate scripts, separate grammar, and phonetic readers besides literature and folk lore and treating Gojri – Pahari as one language is illogical. Stating that the Gojri has been recognized as a regional language in erstwhile state and listed in the Constitution of J&K and is taught in schools as well, they said this language needs to be included in the university curriculum separately.
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