Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 28: Senior National Conference leader and MLA Mendhar, Javed Rana has described non-inclusion of Gojri and Pahari languages as compulsory subjects in school curriculum as highly discriminatory.
He said J&K State is a highly pluralist where along with diversity of geography, regions, sub-regions, religions and races, language is a prominent indicator of pluralism. “It is astonishing that Gojri being the third largest spoken language in the State, having vast literature and a rich heritage, has not found eligible to be included in the school curriculum by the present dispensation,” he said.
Referring to a recent statement of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Venkaiah Naidu calling Hindi national language and a recent order of JK Govt prescribing Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi as compulsory subjects in class 9th and 10th, Rana said these are indicative signals aimed at achieving one culture, one language across the Union of India by subsuming several regional languages, further adding that it must be resisted at all costs.
It smacks of hegemonic attitude of PDP-BJP dispensation that has divided the State on communal lines and into different spheres of influence depending on their vote bank. This seems to be a well thought out step aimed at asserting the pre-eminence of dominant languages of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh in various sub-regions of J&K State.
Apprehending the step of the State Govt a prelude to linguistic imperialism in sub-regions where a significant population with rich cultural heritage speaks Gojri, Pahari and other regional languages, Rana calls for immediate modification of the impugned order and inclusion of Gojri and Pahari as compulsory subjects.
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