Mohd Yaseen
Language is a tool to express the feelings through a set pattern of words or the method of human communication, either spoken or written. However, when it comes to the mother language, the words and their method of communication become identity. The concept of mother tongue is a fascinating aspect of language that has transcended generations. Similarly, in Jammu Dogri is more than just a means of communication. It is a repository of Dogras collective history and heritage. It has provided Dogras an identity and a focus that binds the Dogras together. Over the past some decades, the language has drastically collapsed in which the language is howling for its existence.
Dogri and Punjabi are sister languages, before the 8th schedule, Dogri was considered as a dialect of Punjabi. Where Punjabi has become one of the most spoken languages in the world, Dogri is on the verge of extinction. Mostly spoken in J&K, it is also spoken in some parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and in some parts of Pakistan. The language has seen a certain decline among its speakers and is losing its importance gradually. There are many reasons behind its downfall, which needs to be worked upon or else the language may die in the coming years. One of the major reasons behind Dogri losing its importance is, lack of interest among youth, modernization, cultural intelligence and globalization are posing hindrance and have made the survival of such languages even more difficult. Children, prefer to speak languages which would strengthen them for the competition they would face in their respective fields. They face unprecedented pressure to adopt common languages that are used in Government, technology and entertainment.
The bedrock of a language depends on the folklore of the region, when the culture of a particular region is rich, it will never get suppressed by the modernization, furthermore it will fuse with it, leading to a phenomenal outcome, and will make it a delight for the people belonging to other cultures, they too will start developing an affinity towards it. Language dies, when inhabitants get detached from their culture, and embraces some other or might even develop a new one.
Our language is an expression of ourselves and to preserve it, is our responsibility which connects us to our culture. Once we start thinking that the language is no longer a need of us is a day when we are into a deep threat. We are living in a 21st century where westernization has started dominated us and escaping this whirlpool is impossible unless people don’t grasp their culture firmly. Upcoming generations are well versed with other cultures prevailing, but at the same time they must be bracketed with their mother tongue.
Jammu, which was mainly a Dogra dominated region of Jammu & Kashmir has become so diversified, that it could be called as a cultural melting pot, where people have settled down from the different parts of the state. It is due to its stature of being a capital for six months and moreover acceptance among people towards their fellow citizens from all over the state.
We can easily find the linguistic diversity of Jammu and Kashmir where one can get the difference of accent. In Jammu region most of the youngsters are in illusion that if we get well educated, we can get anything but forgetting the fact that the without the knowledge of their own language, their existence ceases.
In Jammu, one can easily find the linguistic diversity and at the same time we are having many languages in our own state which include Dogri, Kashmiri, Pahari, Bhadarwahi, Ladakkhi, Kishtwari, Balti, Hindi, Gojri and Urdu but in Jammu which is known as the Duggar land have its language called ‘Dogri’ which was recognized in 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution on 22nd of December, 2003 in which lots of efforts have been made by the stalwarts of Jammu who took Dogri to the International heights. Since the last couple of years we are finding that there is a sudden decline in Dogri language in which Jammu feels offensive to speak Dogri and think that it’s insulting to speak it in a public domain.
Sharing his views on Dogri Language, President Dogri Sanstha, Jammu Prof. Lalit Mangotra said, “we want to send our wards to the school where English is used as a medium of communication, everyone wants to compete with the world. Everyone is looking for the best school in Jammu, taking the children away from Dogri.
Govt. never pays attention towards the showcasing of rich sugar coated Dogri language. There is a Government order which was passed in 2002 and 2006 in which they have made Dogri mandatory in schools but nobody has paid any heed towards its implementation and promotion of Dogri Language. Today 11th and 12th classes are having Dogri subject which is also taught in Government schools only.” It is the responsibility of every individual to put in their efforts to promote their mother tongue. “Language could be saved if people love it from the bottom of their heart, the way Bongs or Gujjus do. We have no culture of reading Dogri Literature, literature is considered boring perhaps. We need to give space to Dogri in our houses with love and affection as nobody will come from outside to teach us for the preservation of Dogri language. It was in 1940 when Dogri Literature came into existence; there were only some books at that point of time, but look at the volume of books now which are uncountable, moreover the writers themselves would never ask their children to go through them. We had a newspaper called ‘Jammu Prabhat’ which was published daily in Jammu region but unfortunately due to the negligence of the state as well as the masses, they had to shut it down,” says Prof. Lalit Mangotra, a Sahitya Academy Awardee.
We have many Dogri writers who have given their life and contributed immensely for the promotion of Dogri language and its literature but unfortunately we have also those people who write for its publication with photo and self glorification leading to the mediocrity in Dogri literature.
Language is our identity and reflection of our coexistence and one must understand the fact that without engraving and promoting the Dogri language, we cannot change anything and stand nowhere and will have identity crisis one day as we all are leaving our roots which is our language.
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