Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: On the eve of International Gujjar’s day, the Gujjars community today launched a national campaign for the inclusion of their mother tongue ‘Gojri’ in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
A programme, in this connection, was held here under the banner of Tribal Foundation. Dr Javaid Rahi, a noted tribal researcher while speaking on the occasion said that Gojri is one of the oldest languages of India spoken in 12 states of India, chiefly by Gujjars and it deserves national recognition through its inclusion in the 8th Scheduled of India.
He said former Governors, Chief Ministers from time to time recommended to the Centre Gojri for its inclusion in the list of Indian languages. He added besides language (Gojri) the proud history, culture of Gujjar is also needed inclusion in the curriculum books taught in Indian universities besides Educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Rahi stated that Gujjar community had played a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir but they were not given their due place in the curriculum and now it is the high time to project these facts before appropriate authorities to get it done.
He said initially the focus would be to unite the Gujjar community residing in 12 states of north-western India for a joint struggle to get Gojri recognised at the national level.
“Gojri, a tribal language spoken by nearly two million Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir only, deserves more attention from the government,” he said, adding more than 20 million people speak Gojri across the globe.
He also argued that Gojri has a very rich literature and a number of Institutions. Universities working for the promotion and preservation of Gojri language.
At present, more than one thousand books are available in Gojri -mainly covering poetry, prose, folklore, novel, flora-fauna and history, he said .
Dr Rahi, said that Gurjar Pratihara ruled a larger part of India and defended its territory for more than 500 years. He said that Gujjar history is scattered in larger areas of the subcontinent. He said Gujarat’s name is drawn from Gujjar-Ratta which means Gujjar Nation.
Ch Mohd Shafi, Dr Ishtiaq Choudhary, Rana Abrar and Shabir Chouhan also spoke on the occasion.
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