Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 23: Welcoming the State Government’s initiative recommending Gojri for inclusion in Indian constitution, the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today sought support of all political parties, media groups, influential dignitaries and community living across country to pave a way for constitutional amendment to include this tribal language in the list of protected languages.
The community members were assembled in a meeting organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation-a frontal organization of Gujjars , to discuss further course of action. They asked whole community residing in twelve states of India to join hands together for a long drawn struggle for recognition of their mother tongue at national level.
Dr Javaid Rahi , Secretary , Tribal Foundation said “We consider this recommendation as a significant step towards preservation and promotion of Gojri language and Gujjar culture which has a 5000-year-old history at his back,”.
He expressed gratitudes to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for writing a favourable recommendation to Home Minister of India seeking inclusion of Gojri in the list of Official Languages of India on the bases of its importance and merit.
Dr Rahi claimed that Gojri language was the first language of millions of people in south Asia residing in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and in J&K more than 25 percent of total population speaks Gojri. “Keeping in view its merit, importance and a strong literary traditions including folk and oral traditions, Gojri has a strong locus standi for its inclusion in the 8thSchedule,” he stressed.
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