Protect linguistic heritage of J&K: Dr Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, Feb 20: National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah today urged the people to protect the linguistic heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a message on international mother language day, he emphasised the importance of preserving the linguistic heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Farooq Abdullah said, “One’s mother tongue is a crucial aspect of culture and identity. There is a need to safeguard the linguistic diversity of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly by making the mother tongue the primary medium of instruction in schools, especially during the formative years.”

Highlighting the significance of the Kashmiri language, NC President noted its rich history of classical and folk literature created by poets, sages, rhetoricians, and linguists over thousands of years. Dr Farooq Abdullah called for radical measures to protect and promote Kashmiri and other vernacular languages like Dogri, Pahari, Gojri, Punjabi, and Shina. He stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to ensure the survival of these languages, including prioritizing their inclusion in the education sector and providing special grants for scholars conducting research in vernacular languages.

The National Conference President urged parents to use their local mother tongues as a means of communication at home, emphasizing that communicating in one’s mother tongue should be a source of pride for all residents of J&K. “It is time to take bold steps to preserve and promote the linguistic heritage of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.